Georgia lawmakers Thursday made it through Crossover Day, the deadline for bills to pass through one of the legislative chambers in order for them to be considered for the remainder of the legislative session.
Here’s a breakdown of some closely watched education-related bills to see if they made the cut.
Passed
House Bill 268: In response to the shooting at Apalachee High School, this sweeping bill would instruct schools to create a plan identifying physical safety threats, develop a database with information about students who have made credible threats, penalize parents if their child makes a threat against a school and more.
House Bill 340: This bill would prohibit students in kindergarten through eighth grade from accessing personal electronic devices — mainly cellphones, but including smartwatches and headphones — during the school day.
Senate Bill 17: Also known as “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law,” it would require school systems to implement a crisis alert system, or panic buttons. It also requires that maps of schools be shared with law enforcement agencies.
Senate Bill 61: Senate Republicans’ school safety bill would require annual threat assessments at school sites, but does not outline plans for a statewide database to share information about students who have made credible threats between law enforcement agencies and schools, like HB 268 does.
Senate Bill 74: Librarians, including school librarians, could face prosecution for knowingly distributing “harmful materials” to minors.
Senate Bill 123: It would prohibit students from being expelled by a public school due solely to absenteeism.
Senate Bill 154: This measure attempts to ensure Georgians wouldn’t see a gap in services if President Donald Trump or Congress decide to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
House Resolution 174: The legislation would change the way Georgia chooses its state school superintendent. The state school board, whose members are now appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, would be voted on by House and Senate members of each congressional district. The board would then pick the superintendent instead of the voting public. If the measure reaches Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk, it would need to be approved by voters before amending the state constitution.
Didn’t pass or come for a vote
House Bill 245 and Senate Bill 128: These bills, filed by Democrats, aim to give additional funding to school systems for children living in poverty. Georgia is one of a handful of states that does not account for poverty in its school funding formula.
House Bill 313: The bill aims to make public schools display the Ten Commandments in their buildings.
House Bill 436 and Senate Bill 134: These bills are an attempt by Democrats to repeal the Georgia Promise Scholarship, which gives private school vouchers to students who live in the attendance zone of low-performing schools.
House Bill 686: This measure would legalize sports gambling and direct the proceeds toward education programs including Georgia’s HOPE scholarship and pre-kindergarten program.
Senate Bill 54: Democrats are hoping through this bill to establish a statewide database for threats made on or impacting school campuses. HB 268, which passed, includes similar provisions.
Senate Bill 65: This bill would require that students attend kindergarten before first grade.
Senate Bill 120: This bill would withhold public funding from any K-12 public school, college or university that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
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