GA lawmakers pass education bills on phone use, safety, more. Take a look

As the Georgia legislative session moves forward, a slate of education bills addressing a range of issues, including student cellphone use, teacher recruitment and school safety, are advancing at the state Capitol.

The Georgia House of Representatives approved several education measures Tuesday, some with overwhelming support. The bills now head to the Senate for consideration.

Below is a look at key education bills that have passed at least one chamber and are moving through the legislative process before potentially landing on Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for final approval.

Approved House bills

• HB 1009: The bill would prohibit public high school students from using cellphones and other personal electronic devices during the school day beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The measure calls for schools to “establish appropriate methods for storing students’ personal electronic devices, including, but not limited to, a student’s locker, a locked pouch, or a designated place in the classroom.”

Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) plan, a Section 504 plan or a documented medical plan that requires the use of a personal electronic device would be allowed to use the device as needed to meet those requirements, according to the legislation.

In 2025, lawmakers approved a cellphone ban for kindergarten through eighth-grade students, which will take effect July 1.

• HB 1993: The Georgia Literacy Early Literacy Act of 2026 requires the hiring of full-time literacy coaches for every Georgia public school that serves kindergarten through third-grade students. This measure requires the state to assess funding through its formula, the Quality Basic Education Act, to pay the coaches’ beginning salaries. Schools with fewer than 200 students would receive half of the funding.

Lawmakers said the measure is a priority as the state continues to see low reading proficiency rates and pushes to improve literacy using a science of reading approach.

School districts must adopt a literacy plan by Jan. 1. The bill also created the Georgia Literacy Coordinating Committee to oversee the state’s efforts.

• HB 1023: This bill requires public schools to install at least one weapon detection system at main points of entry by July 1, 2027. The measure does not provide money to pay for the detectors, but school districts can pay for them through state-funded school safety grants.

• HB 310: The Student Teacher Promotion Act would create a needs-based student-teacher grant program for up to 500 student teachers, or a college/university student who is enrolled in an educator preparation provider program. Eligible student teachers would receive up to $5,000 to help offset costs of student teaching.

• HB 971: This measure expands college and career academy availability to homeschool and private school students if they reside in the same RESA district as the academy, or if they live in a neighboring school district adjoining the college and career academy.

• HB 1123: This bill requires schools that offer after-school programs to make such programs available to pre-K students on the same basis as the school’s other enrolled students. The Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) would be authorized to grant annual waivers of this requirement to schools demonstrating extenuating circumstances.

• HB 372: This bill updates the state’s Teacher Retirement System, extending the sunset date of the return-to-work program for retired educators to 2030. The measure also gives local school districts more control over which subject areas are considered high need for hiring retired educators.

Senate-approved bills

• SB 171: This bill requires the state board of education to develop an advanced math pathway for third- to eighth-grade students, which “culminates in students taking a high school level mathematics course in middle school,” according to the legislation.

Districts would be required to offer the new math classes in grades 6-8.

The bill would also require the board to establish criteria for students to be automatically enrolled in the advanced classes, offer an opt-out for students whose parents/guardians do not want them to take the classes, and provide a report on pathway participation.

This list may be updated as more bills move through session.