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Eighteenth legislative day - Thursday, February 12, 2026
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BILL TO COMPENSATE STUDENT TEACHERS
PASSES THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
♦ ♦ GAE PRIORITY LEGISLATION ♦ ♦
HB 310 - a bill that would compensate up to 500 Pell-eligible student teachers in a pilot program that features a $2,500 signing bonus and $5,000 over the time of student teaching - passed the House Education Committee this morning. Rep. Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners, was the only committee member to vote against the bill. State Rep. Phil Olaleye, D-Atlanta, is the sponsor.
Please send Rep. Olaleye and Chair Chris Erwin an email of appreciation at phil.olaleye@house.ga.gov and chris.erwin@house.ga.gov.
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House Education Committee passes literacy bill
The House Education Committee today passed HB 1193, the "Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026." In presenting the bill to the committee, Chair Erwin, R-Homer, called the bill the most important legislative act since the creation of the HOPE Scholarship in 1992. The bill:
- Places literary coaches in all public elementary schools that offer grades K-3,
- Establishes regional literary coaches. Regional literacy coaches train local school coaches and teachers in structured, evidence-based literacy methods,
- Mandates that High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQMI) aligns with the Science of Teaching,
- Encourages parents to start children in school by the age of 5 and enroll their children in a kindergarten program before the first grade,
- Ensures that the Governor's Office of Student Achievement and the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee be more closely aligned,
- Requires reading assessments for students entering the first grade to assure student readiness.
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Join us for a special legislative briefing Tuesday
The GAE Legislative Contact Team (LCT) meets next Tuesday, February 17, for a special briefing on the 2026 legislative session. Please join us at 6:30 p.m. and register here.
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The next Legislative Alert will be Tuesday, February 17
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| House passes NIL bill for high school
HB 383, the "Georgia High School NIL Protection Act," which would set new rules and regulations for high school athletes receiving Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation. The bill passed 171-0.
High school students have been able to sign NIL deals since 2023. The bill also applies to certain eighth graders.
Robin Hines, with the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), stated that most high school NIL deals involve getting a few free meals at a local restaurant in exchange for positive social media posts about the establishment.
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Bill requires schools issue high school diplomas to students receiving end-of-life care
Rep. Deborah Silcox, R-Sandy Springs, has filed legislation, HB 1284, that states: "Each local board of education shall issue a high school diploma to a student enrolled in a high school program who has a medical diagnosis of a terminal condition and is receiving end-of-life care."
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| Senate votes to lower income tax rate
The state Senate today passed SB 476 to lower income tax rates to 4.99% from a current 5.19% and, by 2028, to 3.99%.
To pay for the lost revenue, the legislation proposes to eliminate income tax credits by 2032.
The sponsor of the bill, Senate Appropriations Chair Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, said on the floor of the Senate during the debate that the bill also eliminates the income tax on "almost every" teacher ...
and on individuals earning less than $50,000 and couples earning $100,000 or less.
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| Senate Dems file measure for greater transparency in the state voucher program
Senate Democrats filed a bill to require greater transparency, accountability and standards on private schools participating in the state voucher program.
SB 493 - the "Promise Scholarship Student Success and Transparency Act" - requires, for example, that participating private schools have not less than half of their participating students performing at or above grade level.
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Bill would grant students three mental health days
A bill by Sen. Kenya Wicks, D-Fayetteville, SB 490, states students be entitled to three "mental health days" a year. A "mental health day" means an absence from school due to a student's mental health or emotional well-being.
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