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Eighth legislative day - Wednesday, January 28, 2026;
House and Senate gavel in the 9th Day tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Retirement bill expected to be heard on Tuesday extending program that allows retired educators to return to teaching

SB 150, by Sen. Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro, would extend the state program that allows retired teachers to return to teaching in subject areas that are hard to fill. Sen. Billy Hickman told GAE today that the bill would apply to teachers who already retired with 25 years of service and may remove RESAs' role in determining the-hard-to-fill areas. The current law, which expires this year, only allows retirees with 30 years of service to qualify. The bill is expected to be heard in the Senate Retirement Committee next Tuesday.

Bill would allow educators whose retirement
is provided by PSERS to join TRS

There is reportedly an effort in the Senate to pass SB 209, sponsored by Sen. Russ Goodman, R-Homerville, to allow members of the Public School Employees Retired System (PSERS) - custodians, nutrition employees, school bus drivers, and maintenance personnel - to make a one-time irrevocable decision to become members of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS).

Speaker of the House announces new
legislation to eliminate property taxes

Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Jon Burns, R-Newington, today put his support behind a bill that proposes to eliminate property taxes on homestead exemptions. The bill, the Georgia Homes Act, is expected to be filed tomorrow. At that time, more specific details will become available. It appears the bill would phase out property taxes by 2032. Property taxes fund a substantial portion of local public schools so the impact of the legislation is concerning.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, quoting an analysis from the Association of County Commissioner of Georgia (ACCG), states that the proposals would "eliminate more than $5 billion in annual revenue for schools and local governments across the state."

Private school voucher program may lose
$86 million in funding this year

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, based on data from the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), reported that less than half of the number of students expected to enroll in the new private school voucher program did so. Funding approved last session would have provided vouchers for 20,000 qualified students. However, only 7,700 students qualified.

Last session, lawmakers appropriated $141 million for the so-called "Georgia Promise Scholarship." The mid-year budget proposal from Gov. Brian Kemp cuts that to $55 million.

According to the AJC, "Most of the recipients of the Georgia Promise Scholarship so far - 70% - planned to use the funds at private schools, according to data provided in January by the GSFC. About one-fifth planned to use the funds on home schooling expenses."

NEW BILLS FILED

HB 1005, introduced by Rep. Spencer Frye, D-Athens, would protect student data from immigration officials.

HB 1038 would repeal the recently implemented private school voucher program.

State Sen. Nikki Merritt, D-Grayson, has filed SB 417, which would authorize public employees, including teachers and other public school employees who are not managers or confidential employees, to self-organize or to be represented by a labor organization and bargain collectively with their public employer.

The next Legislative Alert will be Thursday, January 29

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Private school voucher program may lose $86 million in funding this year

NEW BILLS FILED

Private school voucher program may lose
$86 million in funding this year