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The General Assembly met for 15 hours Thursday to close out the 2026 Legislative Session. The House adjourned just before 1:00 a.m. Friday and the Senate joined them a few minutes later.

Despite the very long day, neither chamber addressed many education bills although several are education related. The majority of the session was spent agreeing to changes made in the other chamber to send those bills to the governor.

We will have a full update of the bills passed later this week after reviewing many of the changes and amendments in a flurry of agreements as amended that dominated the day.

The following bills received final passage:

HB 328 by Rep. Casey Carpenter. This bill originally dealt with tax credits for Student Scholarship Organizations, aka vouchers for private schools, but was heavily amended in the House to include HB 1220, HB 1259, and language concerning Transit SPLOST elections. The final version increases the tax credit for SSO's to $150 million rather than the $225 million in the Senate version. The additional bills concern eligibility for the SSO's and prohibits school systems from enrolling out-of-system students unless the local system or virtual school has a CCRPI above 65. The Senate agreed to the final House version and it is on to the Governor.

HB 651 by Rep. Allen Powell requires a local referendum by a city or county to deploy speed cameras in school zones. Currently deployed cameras may remain until the end of the contract then the referendum must be held. A renewal referendum is required every six years. The House agreed to the Senate substitute and it is on to the Governor.

HB 1409 by Rep. Beth Camp relates to mandated reporting and provides for the creation and use of a web-based reporting platform. The bill adds firefighters and animal control workers as mandated reporters, as well. The Senate amended the bill to allow open records requests for the legislature regarding harassment claims and settlements, including sexual harassment, from January 1, 2019 going forward. The House agreed to the changes and it is on to the Governor.

SB 432 by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick requires foster care students be enrolled in a school within three business days following a completed enrollment registration form by the student's parent or legal custodian. The Senate agreed to the House substitute and it is on to the Governor.

SB 556 by Sen. Chuck Payne allows certain advanced fine arts courses to count as "courses of rigor" and be included in GPA calculations when determining HOPE eligibility. The bill was amended in the House Rules committee and has multiple other higher education bills added to it. The Senate also attempted to amend the House version, which failed. The Senate then agreed to the House version and it is on to the Governor.

Several bills were passed or amended by one chamber and then were not brought up in the other chamber and thus, failed.

HB 451 by Rep. Chas Cannon was a bill to allow hunting safety courses in public schools. The Senate stripped that language and added language to allow students to attend character, moral, or religious training during the school day. The House did not bring an agree vote to the floor.

HB 1196 by Rep. Chuck Efstration dealt with requirements for organizations providing services to unhoused people. In the House, language was added from SB 425 related to cursive writing instruction, HB 1269 related to digital literacy, HB 1114 related to financial literacy, HB 971 concerning homeschool and private school students attending college and career academies, HB 1023 requiring weapons detection systems, SB 498 establishing the Georgia Charter Schools Facilities Authority, and HB 629 related to "Stop the Bleed" kits. The Senate did not agree to the final House changes.

SB 513 by Sen. Jason Dickerson failed on the House floor. "The Everyday Counts Act" defined a chronically absent student as any student who misses 10% or more of school days. Penalties included loss of drivers licenses and inability to participate in extracurricular activities.

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Election Day Tomorrow
IN APRIL 7 SPECIAL ELECTION RUNOFFS

Special election runoffs are scheduled for April 7 including in the following districts.

SENATE DISTRICT 53 (Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and portions of Catoosa and Floyd counties). Republican Lanny Thomas and Democrat Jack Zibluk are the candidates. Thomas is a former teacher and head basketball coach at Trion High School in Chattooga County and mayor of Trion. Zibluk is a college professor.

HOUSE DISTRICT 94 (DeKalb and Gwinnett counties). GAE has endorsed Venola Mason, a former educator.

HOUSE DISTRICT 130 (Richmond County). Democrat former State Rep. Sheila Nelson and Republican Thomas McAdams are the two candidates in the runoff special election runoff.

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 14: (Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker and Whitfield counties as well as portions of Cobb County). Clay Fuller, a lawyer who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, and former Brigadier General and former public school educator Shawn Harris are the two candidates in the special election runoff. GAE has endorsed Gen. Harris. Volunteer opportunities are abundant.

>>> In addition, Gov. Brian Kemp has set May 19 for the special election to fill the Senate seat formerly held by Nabilah Islam Parkes (Senate District 7 - Gwinnett) and May 12 for the special election to fill the House seat formerly held by Rep. Dexter Sharper (House District 177 - Lowndes). Both legislators recently resigned their seats. <<<

Election Day TomorrowIN APRIL 7 SPECIAL ELECTION RUNOFFS

Election Day Tomorrow
IN APRIL 7 SPECIAL ELECTION RUNOFFS