Day 32: Senate Finance Approves Major Expansion of Private School Voucher Tax Credit

The House and Senate convened on a stormy day to continue the 2026 legislative session. Neither chamber considered education bills on the floor.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce visited the Gold Dome to show off the official FIFA World Cup and Atlanta World Cup soccer balls. PAGE Director of Legislative Services Margaret Ciccarelli is pictured here with the Atlanta ball.

Senate Floor Action

House Floor Action

House Judiciary Committee Approves Student Political Activity Bill

The House Judiciary Committee approved SB 552 by Sen. Ben Watson (R-Savannah), the True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act. The bill states that students are to engage in political activities and expression as well as form partisan or nonpartisan groups or activities before, during, and after the school day. SB 552 also prohibits public schools with a limited open forum from denying access or discriminating against student groups based on the content of their speech, including political, philosophical, or ideological viewpoints. The legislation also indicates that students are allowed to wear clothing and accessories that display political messages or symbols to the same extent as other messages are allowed under a school's dress code. The bill explicitly states that it does not limit the authority of a public school, its employees, or its agents to maintain order and discipline on school premises, to protect the well-being of students and staff, and to assure that attendance of students at meetings is voluntary.

An amendment was proposed to allow students at least two excused absences to participate in off-campus political events. The amendment failed along party lines, and the bill now moves to House Rules.

House Judiciary Meeting Recording

Senate Committee Considers Changes to Mandated Reporting

HB 1409, sponsored by Rep. Beth Camp (R-Concord), would allow mandated child abuse and neglect reporters, including educators, to use a secure web-based platform to make required reports. Currently, mandated reporters can make required reports by phone, email, or by completing a form on the designated website. When presenting to the Senate Public Safety Committee, Camp framed the online reporting contemplated in the bill as an upgrade. HB 1409 would also add firefighters and animal control officers to the list of mandated reporters. Camp and a member of the committee briefly discussed funding in the state budget for creation of the web-based reporting platform.

The committee did not vote on the legislation and indicated members are likely to act at an upcoming Public Safety meeting later this week.  

Senate Public Safety Meeting Recording

Senate Finance Committee Passed Significant Expansion of PAGE-Opposed Voucher Program

The Senate Finance Committee passed HB 328, by Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton), expanding the cap on Georgia's tuition tax Student Scholarship Organization (SSO) program, which currently diverts $120 million from the state general fund to private school vouchers. The bill's committee substitute expands the cap to $225 million (the version of HB 328 that passed the House raised the cap to $140 million). The substitute also expands the waiver of the program's current six-week public school enrollment requirement to children of active-duty military members, students with an IEP or 504 plan, or students with certain disabilities. It also includes language prohibiting General Assembly members and their spouses from receiving income from a student scholarship organization and sunsets the program on Jan. 1, 2032.

Language from HB 565 by Rep. Rick Townsend (R-Brunswick), increasing the PEACH Education Tax Credit from $15 million to $25 million, was included in the committee substitute of HB 328.

During the committee's discussion of the bill, Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) moved to strike the sunset from the substitute, but this motion failed. The committee approved the bill on a party-line vote with senators Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta), Michel "Doc" Rhett (D-Marietta), and Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) voting "No." HB 328 now awaits consideration by the Senate Rules Committee.

PAGE opposed HB 328 (with the exception of the included language from HB 565) and has submitted concerns regarding the program to Finance Committee members.

Senate Finance Meeting Recording

Upcoming Schedule

Tuesday, March 17 - Legislative Committee Workday

• 11 a.m. House Education Curriculum and Academic Achievement Subcommittee, 506 CLOB

• 1 p.m. House Education Policy and Innovation Subcommittee, 406 CLOB

• 1 p.m. Senate Children and Families, 1 p.m., 450 CAP

• 2 p.m. Senate Education & Youth, 2 p.m., 307 CLOB

• 2 p.m. House Retirement, 2 p.m., 406 CLOB

• 2:30 p.m. House Education Appropriations, 2:30 p.m., 341 CAP

• 3 p.m. Ways and Means Income Tax Subcommittee, 506 CLOB

• 3 p.m. Senate Higher Education, 307 CLOB

Wednesday, March 18 - Legislative Day 33

Thursday, March 19 - Legislative Day 34

Friday, March 20 - Legislative Day 35