Overview:
This week at the Georgia Legislature, lawmakers tackled issues from transgender students in athletics and school choice to cellphones.
This week at the Georgia Legislature, lawmakers tackled a range of education-related issues, from transgender students in athletics and school choice to classroom technology policies.
Female, Male, Coed Spaces
Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), introduced by Senator Greg Dolezal of Cumming, aims to ensure fair and safe participation in middle school, high school, and college sports by designating teams based on biological sex. The bill prohibits males from participating in female-designated interscholastic and intercollegiate competitions and restricts females from participating in male-designated intercollegiate teams, with certain exceptions.
Additionally, it mandates the use of changing areas and sleeping quarters according to sex assigned at birth. The Georgia Senate recently advanced this bill, reflecting a broader national debate on transgender athletes’ participation in sports.
The other sponsors of the bill are: The following list provides the political affiliations of the specified Georgia State Senators: Greg Dolezal (R), John F. Kennedy (R), Steve Gooch (R), Brandon Beach (R) , Randy Robertson (R), John Albers (R), Larry Walker III (R),Ben Watson (R),Kay Kirkpatrick (R), Frank Ginn (R), Bill Cowsert (R),Russ Goodman, (R) Blake Tillery (R),Billy Hickman (R), Drew Echols (R), Sam Watson (R), Max Burns (R), Timothy Bearden (R), Brian Strickland (R), Lee Anderson (R), Clint Dixon (R), Shawn Still (R), Bo Hatchett (R), Marty Harbin (R), Jason Anavitarte (R), Chuck Hufstetler (R), Colton Moore (R), Mike Hodges(R), Chuck Payne (R), and Matt Brass (R).
Charter Schools
House Bill 202 (HB 202) and Senate Bill 82 (SB 82) are bills introduced in the Georgia General Assembly this week, both aiming to encourage local school boards to approve charter school petitions. These bills seek to amend Article 31 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, known as the “Charter Schools Act of 1998,” to implement measures that would motivate local education authorities to support the establishment of more charter schools.
HB 202 was sponsored by Representatives Jan Jones (R), Matt Dubnik (R), Todd Jones (R), Carmen Rice (R), and Wade Will(R). While SB 82 was introduced by Senator Clint Dixon (R), Steve Gooch (R), Jason Anavitarte (R), Chuck Payne (R), Matt Brass (R), Shawn Still (R), and Bo Hatchett (R).
Both bills reflect a concerted effort within the Georgia legislature and federal law to expand school choice by promoting the growth of charter schools through increased local support. The specific provisions of these bills are designed to create incentives for local school boards to consider and approve charter petitions, thereby enhancing educational opportunities for students across the state.
Cellphone Ban for Students in K-8
House Bill 340, titled the “Distraction-Free Education Act,” was introduced in the Georgia House of Representatives on February 6, 2025. The bill mandates that local school systems and public schools establish policies and procedures governing the use of personal electronic devices by students from kindergarten through eighth grade during school hours and at school-sponsored events. It outlines acceptable circumstances for student use of such devices and empowers the Department of Education to offer guidance and technical assistance to schools in implementing these policies. Additionally, the bill prohibits certain waivers to ensure uniform application across all schools.
The primary sponsor of HB 340 is Representative Scott Hilton, along with co-sponsors Jan Johnson (R-Milton), Houston Gaines (R-Athens), Carmen Rice (R), Carter Barrett (R), and Wade Will (R) . This legislation reflects a growing concern among Georgia lawmakers about the impact of personal electronic devices on student learning. It aims to create a more focused educational environment by minimizing distractions. The bill seeks to promote consistent practices across the state’s educational institutions by standardizing device usage policies.
Key Georgia legislative education committee meetings next week include the House Education Committee on Monday at 1:00 p.m., the Senate Appropriations: Education and Higher Education Subcommittee on Tuesday at 7:30 a.m., and the Senate Education and Youth Committee on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.