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Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - Day 39 (as of 9 p.m.)
Archive of past GAE Legislative Alerts this year
Adjournment is Friday, April 4. Thursday is designated as a "committee work day." As of this evening, no committees have scheduled meetings on public-education related legislation. As of this hour, the House and Senate are still in session voting on legislation.
As of 9 p.m. tonight, at least four education bills scheduled for Senate votes have not been brought forward:
HB 225, which would ban all speed detection and red light cameras in school safety zones,
HB 651, which would continue to allow the use of speed detection and red light cameras in school safety zones but which would require signage or flashing lights to notify drivers of their usage,
HB 200 would establish a three-year pilot immersive writing program for eligible public elementary schools. The bill also includes language regarding school playground standards, and
HB 127, which was formerly a bill to increase the number of personal or professional leave days for education, but which was stripped of all language pertaining to, and now states: "No local education agency or postsecondary institution shall promote, support, or maintain any programs or activities that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)."
Updates on these bills will be provded tomorrow.
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House committees advance several bills The House Education Committee yesterday heard SB 152, which - prior to the introduction of a substitute bill in committee - would have made the adopted or biological children of foster care parents eligible for the private school voucher program that passed last year, SB 233. The governor signed the voucher law less than a year ago, on April 23, 2024.
The changes to SB 152 may have the affect of killing the bill. The new version of the bill now requires family income verification. Students of families that make less than 400% of the poverty level as defined annually by the federal Office of Management and Budget are eligible for the voucher under SB 233.
A new section of the bill now limits eligibility to students enrolled in a school that appears on the list of lowest performing (poorest) schools as developed by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) - not a student living in an "attendance zone" in which a school appears on the list.
The Senate sponsor, Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, appeared before the committee and suggested the new version of the bill will be difficult to pass in the Senate, should it pass the House of Representatives.
House Education committee members also passed HR 711, to study chronic student absenteeism, Pre-K-12.
The committeee also heard HB 310, to provide compensation for student teachers. The bill received favorable comments from both Republicans and Democrats on the committee but no vote was taken. The bill will be eligible for further consideration next session. GAE extends its gratitude to Rep. Phil Olaleye, the sponsor of HB 310, and to Sen. Emanuel Jones, who sponsored an identical bill in the Senate, SB 300.
The House Health Committee has passed a committee substitute for SB 39, a bill to prohibit the State Health Benefit Plan from coverage of gender-affirming care. The bill now reflects language found in HB 660, "No state funds shall be expended for health benefits coverage that includes coverage for any "transition-related intervention'." The committee added language to prohibit the state prison from providing inmates with "transition-related intervention."
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Senate passes SR 237, to create
study committee on teacher recruitment
A study committee has been given the approval of the state Senate to provide recommendations to support the state's K-12 education workforce and teacher and school leader pipeline, including compensation for student teachers.
The sponsor of the resolution, Sen. Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro, said:
"Our state has long faced challenges in addressing teacher shortages in both early childhood and K-12 education,” said Sen. Hickman. “Strong partnerships between state and local education agencies, school systems, and educational institutions are key to overcoming these challenges. These programs will help attract a diverse pool of future educators, ensuring we can support and strengthen the education workforce through evidence-based strategies."
In his statement, it was noted that the resolution asks that these recommendations include information about mentorship programs, professional development, and working conditions to improve educator satisfaction and student outcomes. The report must be turned in to the Governor and the Senate by December 1, 2025.
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Bill to require notification to educators
of their retirement benefit options passes
HB 37, which would require local school systems to notify employees of all Social Security withholdings and eligibility for other retirement benefits, passed the Senate today, 52-1.
An amendment was added in committee to allow local school board members to elect family medical coverage under the State Health Benefit Plan. Premiums for the coverage would be fully paid by the board member. The language permits but does not require districts offer family coverage for board members. This bill will go back to the House for an agree or disgree with Senate changes.
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Bill to increase death and permanent
disability benefits for educators
passes Senate
Prompted by the shooting and casualties at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, HB 105 proposes to double the permanent disability and death benefits to a public school teacher or school employee injured or killed on the job from $75,000 to $150,000. The bill passed the Senate today, 51-0.
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House approves school safety bill
SB 17 passed the House today 171-0. The bill would require the establishment of a mobile panic alert system for public schools in the event of an emergency ... but not for private schools. The bill also now requires schools to provide school mapping data to local, state, and federal safety agencies. The bill goes back to the Senate for an agree or disagree.
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| Next Legislative Update: Thursday, April 3
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