The House and Senate met for the seventh legislative day of the 2024 session but took little action. The pace is expected to pick up as committees begin to debate legislation.
Senate Education & Youth Committee Passes Bills for the Second Time
The Senate Education and Youth Committee met for the first time during the 2024 legislative session and quickly passed several bills that were first passed by the committee in 2023. The bills remain eligible to move through the legislature in 2024, the second year of the legislative biennium.
HB 306 by Rep. Tim Fleming (R-Covington) would allow school districts to enter performance contracts for facility upgrades and improvements.
SB 208 and SR 189, both by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), propose a state constitutional amendment, which, if approved by voters, would allow levy of school impact fees for new residential development. Dolezal said the resolution and companion legislation are necessary for fast-growing areas of the state in which existing residents carry the burden of financing creation of new schools to serve families who purchase new construction.
SB 147 by Sen. Shawn Still (R-Norcross), the Boundless Opportunities for Georgia Students Act, would allow students to cross school district lines to attend virtual programs hosted by public schools for which they are not zoned if space is available. Students would carry state Quality Basic Education (QBE) funds to the out-of-zone program above a $10,000 minimum threshold which would stay with their zoned school district. Additionally, participating students would also carry a portion of equalization funding their home district may receive due to the district’s low property tax wealth. The bill passed the committee along party lines by a 4-2 vote.
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday, Jan. 24 – Legislative Day 8
1 p.m. House Higher Education, 606 CLOB
Thursday, Jan. 25 - Legislative Day 9
Friday, Jan. 26 - Legislative Day 10