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Twenty-fourth legislative day - Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Crossover Day is Friday, March 6, the date by which legislation must have passed out of the chamber of its origination to be eligible for consideration by the other chamber

$2,000 bonuses for state-funded,
educators RESTORED!

In January, the governor proposed and later the House of Representatives agreed to provide $2,000 bonuses for public school educators and state employees, a modification to the current year budget. The bonus is intended for state-funded teachers and Education Support Professionals (ESPs).

However, when the House budget bill went to the Senate, Senators reduced the "supplements" to $1,250.

A conference committee of Representatives and Senators met to work out differences between the two chambers' mid-year, adjusted budget and agreed to restore the original request for $2,000. The House passed the bill today, 169-2. The budget bill now goes directly to the governor for his approval.

Remember GAE members, charter schools and school districts with waivers can take that money intended to reward educators and redirect it for any other purpose it chooses. This is an appropriation that needs local attention to ensure that school boards and administrators use the money for the purpose it was intended.

House subcommittee PASSES bill to prevent schools
from waiving duty-free lunch and planning periods

G A E P R I O R I T Y L E G I S L A T I O N

A House Education Committee panel heard HB 1244, a GAE-backed bill that would prohibit school districts from waiving duty-free lunch and planning periods except in "extreme emergencies" or with the agreement of the teacher in exchange for additional compensation. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Akbar Ali, D-Gwinnett.

Rep. Akbar Ali, D-Gwinnett, presents his bill before the House Education
Subcommittee on Curriculum and Academic Achievement

GAE President and Kindergarten teacher Lisa Morgan
addresses the subcommittee on Ali's bill.
Meanwhile, minutes before the vote to pass the bill,
another organization of educators called for
the committee to send the bill to a study committee. What the heck?

Other bills heard in subcommittees of the House Education Committee included:

HB 60 which states: "The State Board of Education shall annually determine the amount of state funds needed to provide a state-wide school lunch program to ensure all students enrolled in public schools in this state have access to high-quality healthy meals to support student learning." No vote was taken on this bill.

HB 829 would require the Georgia Department of Education to publish guidance relating to best practices for secure browsing and parental controls. Such guidance would include "the dangers of viewing material harmful to minors" and "age verification procedures on web sites and social media." The bill cleared subcommittee.

HB 1269 would require the State Board of Education to adopt grade-level appropriate content standards for "instruction in digital literacy to support digital citizenship competencies through critical thinking, responsible technology use, and independent learning across academic subjects." The bill was passed onto the full House Education Committee.

Confirmed speakers at GAE Day at the Capitol

Senate Education Committee chair, Billy Hickman

House Education Committee chair, Chris Erwin

Ranking Democrat, House Education Committee, Doreen Carter

Longest serving member of the House and GAE member, Gerald Greene

Youngest member of the House and author of bill to prohibit waivers for duty-free lunch and teacher planning periods, Akbar Ali

State School Superintendent, Richard Woods

GAE DAY AT THE CAPITOL IS MARCH 5

Register today to hear from educational leaders in the Georgia General Assembly, including the chairs of the House and the Senate Education Committees and state superintendent Richard Woods.

Early voting begins in several districts

Many voters in Georgia can now vote in several in-person, early voting special elections, including:

Senate District 53 (Chattooga, Dade, Walker, and portions of Catoosa and Floyd counties) for the seat previously held by Colton Moore;

House District 94 (DeKalb and Fulton counties) GAE finds both Audrey Lux and Venola Mason as acceptable candidates;

House District 130 (Richmond County) GAE has endorsed Sha'Qunta Calles in this race;

and the 14th Congressional District in northwest Georgia.

Join us for an update on the
legislative session on March 3

The GAE Legislative Contact Team (LCT) next meets March 3, for a special briefing on the 2026 legislative session. Please join us at 6:30 p.m. and register here.

The next Legislative Alert will be Thursday, February 26

100 Crescent Center Pkwy, Suite 500 | Tucker, GA 30084 US

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Confirmed speakers at GAE Day at the Capitol

Join us for an update on the legislative session on March 3

Join us for an update on the
legislative session on March 3