Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB706 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 49 2312
2	2	House Bill 706
3	3	By: Representatives Adesanya of the 43
4	4	rd
5	5	, McQueen of the 61
6	6	st
7	7	, Olaleye of the 59
8	8	th
9	9	, Dawson
10	10	of the 65
11	11	th
12	12	, and Cannon of the 58
13	13	th
14	14
15	15	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	16	AN ACT
17	17	To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
18	18	1
19	19	relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for coursework and2
20	20	educational programs and activities on the history of Black Americans through the history3
21	21	of the United States and their contributions to American society; to provide for related4
22	22	matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
23	23	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
24	24	SECTION 1.7
25	25	Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the8
26	26	"Quality Basic Education Act," is amended in Part 2, relating to competencies and core9
27	27	curriculum, by revising subsections (c) and (e) Code Section 20-2-142.1, relating to10
28	28	coursework in the founding philosophy and principles of the United States of America, as11
29	29	follows:12
30	30	"(c) Each local board of education may require all students, as a condition of graduation,13
31	31	during their ninth through twelfth grade years to complete and pass a separate semester14
32	32	course covering the following founding philosophy and principles of the United States of15
33	33	America:16
34	34	H. B. 706
35	35	- 1 - 25 LC 49 2312
36	36	(1) America's founding philosophy, to include at least the following:
37	37	17
38	38	(A) As articulated in the Declaration of Independence the foundational idea of the18
39	39	Creator-endowed
40	40	Creator endowed unalienable rights of the people;19
41	41	(B) The purpose of limited government, which is to protect the unalienable rights of20
42	42	the people and to protect the people from violence and fraud;21
43	43	(C) The structure of government, separation of powers, and checks and balances; and22
44	44	(D) The rule of law, with frequent and free elections in a representative government23
45	45	which governs by majority vote within a constitutional framework;24
46	46	(2) America's founding principles, to include at least the following:25
47	47	(A) Federalism-government as close to the people as possible, limited federal26
48	48	government, and strong state and local government;27
49	49	(B) Freedoms of speech, press, religion, and peaceful assembly guaranteed by the Bill28
50	50	of Rights;29
51	51	(C) Rights to private property and freedom of individual enterprise;30
52	52	(D) The innocence of any crime until proven guilty, with right of habeas corpus, and31
53	53	no unreasonable searches, seizures, or cruel and unusual punishment;32
54	54	(E) A virtuous and moral people educated in the philosophy and principles of33
55	55	government for a free people;34
56	56	(F) The right to a speedy trial by a jury of peers;35
57	57	(G) The principles of economy in spending, constitutional limitations on government36
58	58	power to tax and spend, and prompt payment of public debt;37
59	59	(H) Economic system of money with intrinsic value;38
60	60	(I) Equality before the law and due process of law with grand jury indictment for39
61	61	capital crimes before holding a person to account;40
62	62	(J) The right of people to keep and bear arms, strong defense capability, supremacy of41
63	63	civil authority over military;42
64	64	H. B. 706
65	65	- 2 - 25 LC 49 2312
66	66	(K) Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with
67	67	43
68	68	none;44
69	69	(L) All laws concise and understandable by the people and not ex post facto laws;45
70	70	(M) Eternal vigilance by 'We the People'; and46
71	71	(N) Founding documents,
72	72	including the Declaration of Independence, the United States47
73	73	Constitution, and the Federalist Papers; and48
74	74	(3) Transformational movements in American history, to include at least the following:49
75	75	(A) The antislavery movement;50
76	76	(B) The Civil Rights movement;51
77	77	(C) Women's suffrage;52
78	78	(D) The contributions of immigrants to American society; and53
79	79	(E) The history of the Native American population; and54
80	80	(F) The history of Black Americans, including both the struggles and the triumphs of55
81	81	Black Americans throughout the history of the United States and the contributions of56
82	82	Black Americans to American society."57
83	83	"(e) This Code section shall apply beginning in school year 2017-2018 2025-2026."58
84	84	SECTION 2.59
85	85	Said article is further amended in Part 14, relating to other educational programs, by revising60
86	86	Code Section 20-2-308, which is reserved, as follows:61
87	87	"20-2-308.62
88	88	Each local education agency, as such term is defined in Code Section 20-2-167.1, shall63
89	89	require each school it operates to conduct educational programs and activities equal to at64
90	90	least one class period addressing the history of Black Americans, including both the65
91	91	struggles and the triumphs of Black Americans throughout the history of the United States66
92	92	and the contributions of Black Americans to American society. Schools are encouraged67
93	93	H. B. 706
94	94	- 3 - 25 LC 49 2312
95	95	to focus educational programs and activities on the topics provided for in this Code section68
96	96	during the month of February. Reserved."69
97	97	SECTION 3.70
98	98	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.71
99	99	H. B. 706
100	100	- 4 -