Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB295 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 49 2271
2	2	Senate Bill 295
3	3	By: Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Sims of the 12th, Albers of the 56th, Summers of the
4	4	13th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and others
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	To amend Part 8 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
8	8	1
9	9	Annotated, relating to State Board of Education under the "Quality Basic Education Act,"2
10	10	so as to require local school systems to maintain and publish a registry of all contracts worth3
11	11	more than $10,000.00 involving the use of any state funds; to provide for such information4
12	12	to be included on the contract registry; to require local boards of education to adopt policies;5
13	13	to provide for enforcement; to prohibit waivers; to provide for related matters; to repeal6
14	14	conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
15	15	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
16	16	SECTION 1.9
17	17	Part 8 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,10
18	18	relating to State Board of Education under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended11
19	19	by adding a new Code section to read as follows:12
20	20	"20-2-245.
21	21	13
22	22	(a) By August 1, 2026, each local school system shall maintain a contract registry that14
23	23	includes a complete record of all contracts, agreements, and other financial obligations by15
24	24	any other name in an amount greater than $10,000.00, if such contract, agreement, or other16
25	25	S. B. 295
26	26	- 1 - 25 LC 49 2271
27	27	obligation is paid for or otherwise financed in whole or in part using state funds. Such17
28	28	contract registry shall be prominently posted and readily searchable on the local school18
29	29	system's public website. Such contract registry shall include the information required in19
30	30	subsection (b) of this Code section.20
31	31	(b) By January 1, 2026, the Department of Education shall create a template for local21
32	32	school systems' contract registries required by this Code section. Such template shall22
33	33	provide for the contract registry to include the information relevant to the public's right to23
34	34	know how tax dollars are being spent or obligated, to whom and for what purposes such24
35	35	tax dollars are being obligated, and shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:25
36	36	(1) Name of the contracting entity, contractor, vendor, or payee;26
37	37	(2) Contract initiation and end dates;27
38	38	(3) Contract renewal and extension options, if any;28
39	39	(4) Contract payment terms;29
40	40	(5) Total contract amount or obligation;30
41	41	(6) Contract funding source or sources;31
42	42	(7) Contract spending category;32
43	43	(8) A brief description of the purpose of the contract, including, but not limited to, what33
44	44	goods, services, and other things of value are being purchased, leased, received, or34
45	45	otherwise procured; 35
46	46	(9) Whether the contract was competitively procured, and if not, an explanation for why36
47	47	competitive procurement was not used or required;37
48	48	(10) The names of each officer of the contracting entity, contractor, vendor, or payee and38
49	49	of each individual who signed or otherwise executed the contract on behalf of the39
50	50	contracting entity, contractor, vendor, or payee;40
51	51	(11) Whether any individual identified pursuant to paragraph (10) of this subsection, or41
52	52	any individuals lobbying for such contracting entity, contractor, vendor, or payee, was42
53	53	S. B. 295
54	54	- 2 - 25 LC 49 2271
55	55	employed by the local school system or its local board of education in the previous five43
56	56	years; and44
57	57	(12) Whether the local board of education or the local school system contracted with45
58	58	such contracting entity, contractor, vendor, or payee in the previous five years, and if so,46
59	59	when.47
60	60	(c)(1) Each local school system's contract registry shall be regularly updated and not less48
61	61	often than by August 1, November 1, February 1, and May 1 each year.49
62	62	(2) Each local school system shall have no more than 60 days from the initiation of a50
63	63	contract, agreement, and other financial obligation by any other name in an amount51
64	64	greater than $10,000.00 to update its contract registry to include the information required52
65	65	in subsection (b) of this Code section.53
66	66	(d) By July 1, 2026, each local board of education shall establish policies to implement the54
67	67	requirements of this Code section.55
68	68	(e) If a local board of education fails to comply with any provision of this Code section,56
69	69	compliance shall be subject to enforcement pursuant to Code Section 20-2-243.57
70	70	(f) This Code section shall not be subject to waiver pursuant to Code Section 20-2-82 for58
71	71	a strategic waivers school system or Code Section 20-2-2063.2 or 20-2-2065 for a charter59
72	72	system."60
73	73	SECTION 2.61
74	74	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.62
75	75	S. B. 295
76	76	- 3 -