[May 11, 2026] | I will try to cover many of our new laws over the next few weeks. These bills were introduced in the House or Senate, worked on by many legislators, and debated in the Education committee, which I am a member of.
Education Bills signed:
HB 1193, This bill was probably the biggest education bill of the year. This has been a long time coming and was a legislative priority for all of us who are involved in the education of our children. We knew it was a problem that was not being addressed. This bill is known as the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026. It enacts a grant program to hire 1300 literacy coaches so we will have one in every elementary school, expands kindergarten offerings, creates a statewide literacy task force, and empowers the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) to produce a state literacy plan. This was also funded by the legislature with 100 million new dollars. This bill follows what has been done in a few other states to put the right tools in our teachers' hands so that every child will be reading at the third grade reading level when they leave the third grade. If Alabama and Mississippi can do it, we can too! Even better.
HB 1009, This is the Ban Cell Phones in Schools Bill, part two! This will expand the prohibition of personal electronic devices in public schools to include high school grades nine through twelve. This was also a top priority of many of us when we heard the success of HB 340, signed by the Governor in 2025, which banned these devices in K-8 classrooms. My teacher daughter, Elizabeth, thinks this will help a lot. I do feel it's a shame we have to get this involved, but the Georgia Dept. of Education provided no leadership in these important issues.
HB 1123, This will expand childcare options for Georgia families by requiring schools with existing after-school programs to offer the program to pre-K students on the same basis as other students.
HB 1030, is known as the Math Matters Act and requires local boards of education to dedicate at least 60 minutes of core math instruction each day in grades four and five. It also requires the Georgia Department of Education to adopt content standards for advanced math courses for grades eight through ten and support advanced math courses in grades six and seven. Additionally, it provides for the automatic enrollment of high-achieving math students into advance math courses in grades six through ten.
HB 1284, requires local school boards to issue a high school diploma to enrolled high school students who have received a terminal medical diagnosis and are receiving end-of-life care.
SB 148, authorizes local school boards to offer instruction in hunting safety, establishes a pilot program on outdoor learning spaces, and removes the requirement that a licensed physician must be involved with a school's AED program. It also increases the number of sick days that a teacher may convert to personal leave from three days to five.
SB 150, builds on Governor Kemp's previous efforts to establish a Return-to-Work program for educators by extending the program to 2030 and further easing pathways for Georgia teachers to return to the profession - especially in high-need areas.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the bills or want more detail. My Capitol office number is 404-656-7153. My email is rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Representative.