Floor action and committee work intensified today as education legislation progressed on the concluding day of week four.
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House Approves AFY2025 Budget
The AFY2025 budget (HB 67) passed the House by a vote of 166-3. The most notable education-related House addition to Gov. Brian Kemp's initial budget proposal is $3 million in startup funding for a school threat assessment tracking system. This addition aligns with HB 268, the House's marquee school safety legislation.
Other AFY2025 highlights include:
$114 million increase to Quality Basic Education (QBE) for student enrollment growth
One-time increase of $50 million for school safety grants proposed by Kemp. If approved by the General Assembly, the increase would boost safety grants to about $68,000 per school from about $47,000
$7.4 million in additional funds to move Pre-K lead teachers to the K-12 state salary schedule
$160,000 directed to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) to provide mental health support to students who have experienced a significant public safety event or natural disaster
2.4 million to cover the cost of PSAT and AP testing
After passing the House, the bill was immediately transferred to the Senate as is standard practice for budget bills. The Senate will now consider the AFY2025 budget.
Senate Passes 'Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act'
Following significant debate from supporters and opponents, SB 1, the "Fair and Safe Athletic Opportunities Act," by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) passed the Senate by a 35-17 vote. The bill would prohibit males from competing in female-only school sports and prohibit females from competing in male-only sports, with several exceptions. For the purposes of this bill, sex is defined as that identified on a student's birth certificate as long as it was issued at or near birth.
SB 1 moves to the House for consideration.
House Education Subcommittees Hold First Meetings
The House Education Subcommittee on Curriculum met and approved three bills, two of which PAGE testified in support of:
HB 105 by Rep. Will Wade (R-Dahlonega), one of Kemp’s floor leaders in the House, increases the state indemnification fund for public school employees from $75,000 to $150,000 for educators killed in the line of service. The bill is in response to the deaths of Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie at Apalachee High School last fall. PAGE Director of Legislative Services Margaret Ciccarelli shared PAGE’s support for the bill and its support of the families of educators who have sacrificed their lives while doing their jobs. The bill passed unanimously and moved to the full House Education Committee for consideration.
HB 192, the Top State for Talent Act by Rep. Matthew Gambill (R-Cartersville), another of Kemp’s House floor leaders, further aligns Georgia’s Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program within the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) with the High Demand Career List created by HB 982 in 2024. The bill passed unanimously and moves to the full committee.
HB 81 by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins) enters Georgia into the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. If passed, Georgia would join four other states in the compact, and several other states are considering the compact in their legislative sessions. Ciccarelli spoke in support of the bill, mentioning PAGE’s 2024 survey results that highlight more school psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors as the top strategy to improve school safety. Rachel Greenlee, a school psychologist from Jackson County and president of the Georgia Association of School Psychologists, also spoke in support. Greenlee highlighted the importance of license portability for school psychologists in military families and recommended allowing practitioners who move to Georgia to begin serving students as quickly as possible. She said school psychologists have the highest required level of training of all school professionals and are uniquely trained to support Georgia’s ongoing literacy efforts. The bill passed unanimously and moves to the full committee.
The House Education Subcommittee on Policy met just after the Curriculum Subcommittee, approved two bills, and held one for more review:
HB 12 by Rep. Chas Cannon (R-Moultrie) reduces the minimum required millage rate from 14 mills to 10 mills, broadening eligibility for equalization grants aimed at supporting school districts with lower property tax revenues. HB 12 also proposes a 25 percent reduction in equalization awards for districts not meeting the minimum millage requirement. GaDOE would prepare an annual report on the initial and adjusted equalization grant amounts for each local school system. HB 12 now moves to full committee for consideration.
HB 37 by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) directs 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. Notification must occur at least once every five years and at or near the time of employee separation from a school district. HB 37 also moves forward to full committee.
HB 118 by Rep. Rick Townsend (R-Brunswick) requires a portable airway clearance device at childcare centers and expedites the timeline by which staff must obtain CPR certification to 45 days from 90 days. Townsend called the device a "third tool in the toolbox” behind CPR and abdominal thrusts (formerly called the Heimlich maneuver), and emphasized that use of the tool would not replace CPR as the most effective method of helping a choking child. HB 118 was held after the executive director of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics expressed concern about the bill, citing concerns about the lack of FDA approval for the devices.
PAGE Presents to Working Families Caucus
In the interim between today's floor sessions and the start of committee meetings, PAGE co-hosted a lunch meeting of the bipartisan Working Families Caucus. During the meeting, PAGE Senior Policy Consultant Claire Suggs presented PAGE member priorities such as school safety, student mental health, and continued support of literacy initiatives.
PAGE Director of Legislative Services Margaret Ciccarelli and PAGE Consultant Claire Suggs
present to the Working Families Caucus
PAGE Day on Capitol Hill Feb. 18
Join us Tuesday, Feb. 18, for PAGE Day on Capitol Hill. In partnership with partnership with the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) and the Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (GACTE), the event will provide PAGE members an opportunity to learn about important education policy initiatives and meet state policymakers.
Attendees will receive complimentary breakfast and lunch. During the morning session, attendees will hear from legislators and other policymakers on pertinent education policy issues, including education funding, Georgia's teacher pipeline, the Teacher Retirement System, and more.
Mid-morning, attendees will engage in advocacy and direct dialogue with legislators under the Gold Dome. The event culminates in a lunch buffet during which state leaders will share remarks.
Upcoming Schedule
Monday, Feb. 10 - Legislative Day 14
Tuesday, Feb. 11 - Legislative Day 15
7:30 a.m.. Senate Education Appropriations, 307 CLOB
Wednesday, Feb. 12 - Legislative Day 16