The 2025 session of the Georgia General Assembly ended Friday night – earlier than most expected – but before the final gavel came down in the House and Senate, many education bills made it across the line. One of those bills – HB 68 — was the FY26 budget that expanded the $13.6 billion for K-12 schools by including around $40 million for programs to improve student literacy, more than $100 million for school security measures and nearly $20 million in grants for mental health support.
“This budget reflects our commitment to strengthening key areas of investment and uplift every community across the state,” Speaker Jon Burns said during a news conference following the bill’s passage. “These investments are going to help secure the future success of our state.”
Here are other education-related bills approved by lawmakers and awaiting the Governor’s signature:
SB 82 by Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Gwinnett, will promote local approval of charter schools by creating an incentive grant program overseen by the State Charter Schools Commission. School districts would receive grant funds when they approve charter schools. However, any school district that denies a local charter petition, would be required to provide the petitioner with a written explanation of denial. This provision would not apply to districts with fewer than 10,000 students and would sunset on July 1, 2035.
SB 20 sponsored by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, R-Marietta, includes language from HB 56 by Rep. Jesse Petrea, R-Savannah, to create a memorial fund for public school teachers and employees killed or disabled in the line of duty. The fund would be managed by the Georgia Student Finance Authority. It would provide tuition grants to the children and spouses of educators killed or disabled in the line of service.
HB 105 by Rep. Will Wade, R-Dawsonville, increases the state financial award from $75,000 to $150,000 for families of educators killed in the line of service.
HB 217 by Rep. Soo Hong, R-Lawrenceville, extends the sunset to 2031 for the Dual Achievement Program. A Senate floor amendment added language allowing the Georgia Education Savings Authority to verify the income of Promise Scholarship applicants.
HR 711 by Rep. Chris Erwin, R-Homer, creates the House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education.
HR 887, introduced by Rep. Shaw Blackmon, R-Bonaire, creates the House Study Committee on
HR 347 by Rep. Brent Cox, R-Dawsonville, urges all Georgia high schools to establish flag football programs for girls. The Arthur Blank Foundation is offering $5,000 to $10,000 grants to start up the programs.
SB 63 by Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Gwinnett, requires school districts that offer PSAT, SAT, PreACT, ACT or Advanced Placement (AP) exams to students enrolled in the district to offer the same testing to homeschool students residing in the district. School districts could not charge homeschooled students any fee to take the exams beyond what is currently charged to enrolled students.
HB 37 by Rep. Rob Leverett, R-Elberton, requires local school districts to notify employees about whether Social Security taxes will be withheld from their pay and requires notification of employee eligibility for other pension or retirement plans. The bill was amended in the Senate to include provisions by Sen. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, allowing school board members to carry spouses and family members on district-provided health and dental plans.
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