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Twenty-second legislative day - Tuesday, February 24, 2026
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GAE BILL TO COMPENSATE
STUDENT TEACHERS PASSES HOUSE
A GAE-initiated bill to compensate students teachers for their time in training in our schools passed the House this afternoon, 151-6. Thanks to Skylar Nunley, the aspiring educators liaison, and our aspiring educators for their help in pushing this bill over the goal line. The pilot program passed by the House today, in the form of HB 310, would compensate up to 500 Pell-eligible student teachers that features a $2,500 signing bonus and $5,000 over the time of student teaching. State Rep. Phil Olaleye, D-Atlanta, is the sponsor. Please send Rep. Olaleye a note of appreciation for his persistence in passing this bill, and also Education Committee Chair Chris Erwin chris.erwin@house.ga.gov.
The House also passed HB 1009, a bill to prevent high school students from using their cell phones during the school day.
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Rep. Phil Olaleye on the House floor speaking for his bill, HB 310.
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"UP AND AT 'EM," AS MY FATHER USED TO SAY
Busy day at the Capitol today. Between 8 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., about 25 committees met today. And, of course, the full House and Senate also met.
The Senate Retirement Committee gaveled their meeting to order. No bills related to the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) or the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) were brought up.
A joint meeting of the House and Senate Retirement committees saw no legislation pertaining to PSERS or TRS.
The House Committee on Public and Community took up HB 1040 to prohibit smoking within a 25-foot radius of any state and local government buildings or enclosed public place.
The Senate Education and Youth Committee met this afternoon. Among the bills the committee discussed were:
SB 475, sponsored by Sen. ReShaun Kemp, D-Cobb/Fulton, states that local school boards treat local charter schools no less favorably than local schools with regard to EPLOST funding. The bill passed with no objection but with an amendment by Sen. Sonya Halpern, D-Atlanta.
Three bills were also heard with no vote:
SB 519, by Sen. Tonya Anderson, D-Lithonia, states in part: "No employee of a public school shall be selected as the evaluator for other employees of such public school" to create a more fair teacher evaluation process. The bill also mandates two bathroom breaks for teachers a day,
HB 200 would mandate a pilot program for "immersive writing program," and
SB 484 would allow private school teachers, with no certification, to be hired by public schools.
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GAE bill to prohibit schools from waiving
duty-free will be heard tomorrow!
Newly-elected House Representative Akbar Ali's legislation to prohibit school districts from waiving the state law regarding duty-free lunch and planning periods will be the subject of a hearing tomorrow, HB 1244.
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| Confirmed speakers at GAE Day at the Capitol
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Senate Education Committee chair, Billy Hickman
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House Education Committee chair, Chris Erwin
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Ranking Democrat, House Education Committee, Doreen Carter
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Longest serving member of the House and GAE member, Gerald Greene
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Youngest member of the House and author of bill to prohibit waivers for duty-free lunch and teacher planning periods, Akbar Ali
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State School Superintendent, Richard Woods
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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.
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Early voting begins in several districts
Many voters in Georgia can now vote in several in-person, early voting primaries, 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 and qualified candidates,
House District 130 (Richmond County). GAE has endorsed Sha'Qunta Calles in this race, and
The 14th Congressional District in northwest Georgia.
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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.
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The next Legislative Alert will be Wednesday, February 25
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100 Crescent Center Pkwy, Suite 500 | Tucker, GA 30084 US
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