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Thursday, February 6, 2025 - Day 13
Archive of previous Legislative Alerts for this session
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House Ed Committee hears six bills today
House Education Committee subcommittees took up a combined six bills today, five of which passed and are likely to be heard in full committee next Tuesday, February 11. Those five are:
HB 12: Pertains to lowering the millage threshold for a school system to be eligible for equalization grants. SB 44 is a similar bill in the Senate, which passed the Senate Education and Youth Committee Wednesday.
HB 37: Would require local school systems to notify employees regarding Social Security withholdings and eligibility for certain other retirement plans. GAE strongly supports this bill.
HB 81: "The Interstate Compact for School Psychologists," if enacted, would "facilitate the interstate practice of school psychology in educational or school settings, and in so doing to improve the availability of school psychological services." The Compact is intended to establish a pathway to allow school psychologists to obtain equivalent licenses to provide school psychological services."
HB 105: Would double the disability and death benefits to a public school teacher or school employee injured or killed on the job from $75,000 to $150,000.
HB 192: "The Top State for Talent Act" would update the High-Demand Career List published by the State Workforce Development Board with respect to the State Board of Education's minimum course of study in career, technical, and agricultural education for students in grades six through 12.
One bill was tabled, HB 118, after the executive director of the Georgia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) testified in opposition. The bill would require child care learning centers and family child care learning homes have on site at least one portable airway clearance (PAC) device and that at least two employees of such center or home who cares for or supervises children at such center or home is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The Academy noted potential dangers of the devices and the fact that the devices have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One study on the efficacy of such devices found them "entirely unsuccessful."
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Senate passes bill affecting
transgender athletes and school sports
The Georgia state Senate passed SB 1, with two Democrats voting with all Republicans for a 35-17 vote. The bill would require transgender girls and women to compete only on sports teams according to the gender on their birth certificate, except for teams identified as co-ed.
Also today, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced a change in its policies on transgender athletes, limiting competition in women's sports to athletes assigned the gender designation of female at birth.
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IMMIGRATION AND SCHOOLS
The Senate Public Safety Committee passed SB 21 yesterday, which could expose school districts to lawsuits if they fail to cooperate with federal immigration officials or the police. The U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled that states cannot deny students access to public education based on their immigration status.
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More education-related bills filed
"The Leave No Georgia Child Hungry Act," HB 302, states: "The State Board of Education shall annually determine the amount of state funds needed to provide a state-wide program to offer quality and healthy meals, without charge, to all students enrolled in a public school in this state who are enrolled in after-school education programs or summer school education programs."
HR 174 would change the office of State School Superintendent from an elected position, decided by the voters, to an appointed position decided by the State Board of Education. This proposed Constitutional amendment changes the selection of Board of Education members, now appointed by the governor, to that of an election, by congressional district, by members of the Georgia House of Representatives.
State Sen. Nabilah Islam-Parkes has filed legislation, SB 155, to bring back the "back-to-school" sales tax holiday.
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Next Legislation Contact Team (LCT) meeting is Feb. 13
Join us Thursday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m. for the latest on the current legislative session.
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| Next Legislative Update: Monday, February 10
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