Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB293 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 49 1972
2	2	House Bill 293
3	3	By: Representatives Miller of the 62
4	4	nd
5	5	, Carter of the 93
6	6	rd
7	7	, Glaize of the 67
8	8	th
9	9	, Willis of the 55
10	10	th
11	11	,
12	12	Berry of the 56
13	13	th
14	14	, and others
15	15	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	16	AN ACT
17	17	To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to
18	18	1
19	19	repeal various provisions of the “Protect Students First Act,” enacted by Ga. L. 2022, p.136,2
20	20	relating to divisive concepts; to repeal Code Section 20-1-11, relating to advocating for3
21	21	divisive concepts, prohibition on discrimination, practice of tolerance and mutual respect4
22	22	encouraged, complaint resolution policies, inspection of records, and waivers prohibited; to5
23	23	repeal a provision which prohibits basing certification and classification of certain6
24	24	professional personnel upon completion of training programs which advocate for certain7
25	25	concepts; to repeal a provision which prohibits certain performance standards and the code8
26	26	of ethics for educators to require completion of training programs which advocate for certain9
27	27	concepts; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.10
28	28	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11
29	29	SECTION 1.12
30	30	Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended in13
31	31	Article 1 of Chapter 1, relating to general provisions, by repealing Code Section 20-2-11,14
32	32	relating to advocating for divisive concepts, prohibition on discrimination, practice of15
33	33	H. B. 293
34	34	- 1 - 25 LC 49 1972
35	35	tolerance and mutual respect encouraged, complaint resolution policies, inspection of
36	36	16
37	37	records, and waivers prohibited, in its entirety.17
38	38	SECTION 2.18
39	39	Said title is further amended in Subpart 1 of Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2, relating to19
40	40	certificated professional personnel in elementary and secondary education, by revising20
41	41	subsection (a) and paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-200, relating to21
42	42	regulation of certificated professional personnel by Professional Standards Commission,22
43	43	rules and regulations, and fees, as follows:23
44	44	"(a) The Professional Standards Commission shall provide, by regulation, for certifying24
45	45	and classifying all certificated professional personnel employed in the public schools of25
46	46	this state, including personnel who provide virtual instruction to public schools of this state,26
47	47	whether such personnel are located within or outside of this state or whether such personnel27
48	48	are employed by a local unit of administration. Such certification and classification shall
49	49	28
50	50	not be dependent in whole or in part upon an individual participating in or completing any29
51	51	training program in which divisive concepts, as such term is defined in Code Section30
52	52	20-1-11, are advocated for. No such personnel shall be employed in the public schools of31
53	53	this state unless they hold certificates issued by the commission certifying their32
54	54	qualifications and classification in accordance with such regulations. The commission33
55	55	shall establish such number of classifications of other certificated professional personnel34
56	56	as it may find reasonably necessary or desirable for the operation of the public schools;35
57	57	provided, however, that such classifications shall be based only upon academic, technical,36
58	58	and professional training, experience, and competency of such personnel. The commission37
59	59	is authorized to provide for denying a certificate to an applicant, suspending or revoking38
60	60	a certificate, or otherwise disciplining the holder of a certificate for good cause after an39
61	61	investigation is held and notice and an opportunity for a hearing are provided the certificate40
62	62	holder or applicant in accordance with subsection (d) of Code Section 20-2-984.5. The41
63	63	H. B. 293
64	64	- 2 - 25 LC 49 1972
65	65	commission shall designate and define the various classifications of professional personnel
66	66	42
67	67	employed in the public schools of this state that shall be required to be certificated under43
68	68	this Code section or under Code Section 20-2-206. Without limiting the generality of the44
69	69	foregoing, the term 'certificated professional personnel' means all professional personnel45
70	70	certificated by the commission and county or regional librarians.46
71	71	(b)(1) The Professional Standards Commission shall establish rules and regulations for47
72	72	appropriate requirements and procedures to ensure high-quality certification standards48
73	73	for all Georgia educators while facilitating the interstate mobility of out-of-state certified49
74	74	educators; provided, however, that such rules, regulations, requirements, and procedures
75	75	50
76	76	shall not require an individual to participate in or complete any training program in which51
77	77	divisive concepts, as such term is defined in Code Section 20-1-11, are advocated for."52
78	78	SECTION 3.53
79	79	Said title is further amended in Subpart 1A of Part 2 of Article 16 of Chapter 2, relating to54
80	80	improved student learning environment and discipline in elementary and secondary55
81	81	education, by revising Code Section 20-2-739, relating to conflict management and56
82	82	resolution and cultural diversity training programs, as follows:57
83	83	"20-2-739.58
84	84	On and after July 1, 2000, the Department of Education shall provide training programs in59
85	85	conflict management and resolution and in cultural diversity for voluntary implementation60
86	86	by local boards of education for school employees, parents and guardians, and students;61
87	87	provided, however, that after July 1, 2022, such training programs shall not advocate for62
88	88	divisive concepts, as such term is defined in Code Section 20-1-11."63
89	89	SECTION 4.64
90	90	Said title is further amended in Part 10 of Article 17 of Chapter 2, relating to professional65
91	91	standards in elementary and secondary education, by revising subsection (a) of Code66
92	92	H. B. 293
93	93	- 3 - 25 LC 49 1972
94	94	Section 20-2-984, relating to Professional Standards Commission — authority to create and
95	95	67
96	96	implement standards and procedures for certifying educational personnel, recommending68
97	97	standards and procedures for certification, continuation of teaching certificates, and69
98	98	restrictions, as follows:70
99	99	"(a) The commission shall create and implement standards and procedures for certifying71
100	100	educational personnel as qualified for a certificate to practice in the public schools of72
101	101	Georgia.
102	102	; provided, however, that such standards and procedures shall not require an73
103	103	individual to participate in or complete any training program in which divisive concepts,74
104	104	as such term is defined in Code Section 20-1-11, are advocated for; provided, further, that75
105	105	such Such standards and procedures shall include the following:76
106	106	(1) Procedures for limiting the number and types of certificates to the fewest possible77
107	107	consistent with providing qualified teachers for Georgia's schools;78
108	108	(2) In-service training and related requirements needed to renew or maintain79
109	109	certification;80
110	110	(3) Multiple or alternative routes to professional teacher certification, including, but not81
111	111	limited to, the alternative and nontraditional teacher certification programs provided for82
112	112	in Code Section 20-2-206; provided, however, that the commission's standards and83
113	113	procedures consider for in-state certification nationally accredited teacher certification84
114	114	programs outside of this state which are state sponsored and meet the academic85
115	115	accreditation and certification requirements of the commission; and86
116	116	(4)(A) Requirements, including appropriate examinations and assessments, for87
117	117	acquiring and maintaining certification pursuant to Code Section 20-2-200.88
118	118	(B) Beginning July 1, 2025, the Georgia Assessments for Certification of Educators89
119	119	(GACE), or any other assessment required by the commission for teacher certification,90
120	120	shall be aligned with developmentally appropriate evidence based literacy instruction."91
121	121	H. B. 293
122	122	- 4 - 25 LC 49 1972
123	123	SECTION 5.
124	124	92
125	125	Said title is further amended in Part 10 of Article 17 of Chapter 2, relating to professional93
126	126	standards in elementary and secondary education, by revising subsection (a) of Code94
127	127	Section 20-2-984.1, relating to Professional Standards Commission — adoption of standards95
128	128	of performance and a code of ethics, as follows:96
129	129	"(a) It shall be the duty of the commission, by regulation, to adopt standards of97
130	130	performance and a code of ethics for educators. The standards of performance and code98
131	131	of ethics shall represent standards of performance and conduct which are generally99
132	132	accepted by educators of this state. In adopting regulations as provided in this Code100
133	133	section, the commission shall seek the advice of educators of this state. The standards of101
134	134	performance and code of ethics adopted by the commission shall be limited to professional102
135	135	performance and professional ethics. The standards of performance and code of ethics
136	136	103
137	137	adopted by the commission shall not require an individual to participate in or complete any104
138	138	training program in which divisive concepts, as such term is defined in Code Section105
139	139	20-1-11, are advocated for."106
140	140	SECTION 6.107
141	141	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.108
142	142	H. B. 293
143	143	- 5 -