UNDER THE GOLD DOME

LEGISLATIVE WEEK 6

HALFWAY TO SINE DIE!

The Georgia House of Representatives reconvened at the State Capitol on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to begin the sixth week of the legislative session following the President’s Day holiday. This week marked an important milestone in our work under the Gold Dome. By the end of the week, we completed Legislative Day 22—meaning we are officially more than halfway through the 2026 legislative session. With a full schedule of committee hearings and floor votes this week, we continued working diligently to advance meaningful bills through the legislative process. The weeks ahead will bring long days in the House Chamber as we remain steadfast in our work to pass legislation that benefits our communities and strengthens our state. 

NOTABLE LEGISLATION

FOSTER PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS

On Tuesday, the Georgia House passed House Bill 256, legislation that would rename the “Foster Parents Bill of Rights” to the “Foster Placements Bill of Rights,” meaningfully expanding protection of foster care providers under state law. The bill would extend the same statutory rights afforded to traditional foster parents to relative caregivers and fictive kin—individuals who share close, family-like bonds with a child—recognizing the vital role they play in Georgia’s child welfare system. Furthermore, the bill would add new protections for foster placement caregivers, including the right to apply a reasonable and prudent parent standard so that caregivers can determine the foster child’s ability to engage in extracurricular activities. The bill would also allow foster placement caregivers to request the presence of a trained, certified volunteer advocate during meetings with the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) when the foster child is present, ensuring both the caregiver and child are supported during these meetings. Additionally, the bill would protect caregivers from retaliation for filing complaints with the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and affirm their right to seek and obtain independent legal counsel or advice regarding the foster placement’s status. Collectively, these provisions seek to support foster placement caregivers as they navigate the complex fostering process while caring for some of Georgia’s most vulnerable children. 

EDUCATION UPDATE

PROTECTING OUR ATHLETES

My House colleagues and I also advanced legislation to strengthen student-athlete safety by modernizing Georgia’s preparticipation physical examination requirements. On Wednesday, we unanimously passed House Bill 970 to expand the list of qualified healthcare professionals who can conduct sports physicals to include licensed medical physicians, doctors of osteopathic medicine, nurse practitioners or physician assistants. By broadening who can perform these examinations, this measure would increase timely access to care for student athletes, particularly those in rural and underserved communities. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, these examinations would also include a cardiovascular prescreening that follows nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines from organizations such as the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Physicals would be required to use the State Board of Education’s approved form and would remain valid for one year from the date of examination. Additionally, parents would receive educational materials about the warning signs and causes of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes. As Georgia has seen instances of sudden cardiac arrest among young athletes in recent years, HB 970 seeks to take proactive steps to identify potential health risks and help prevent these types of tragedies in school sports. 

SPONSORED LEGISLATION

Because the Georgia General Assembly operates on a two year cycle, bills introduced last year are still "alive" during this second year of the biennium. You can click on the red text of the bill number to read the text of each bill.

HOUSE BILL 372 -- This bill will allow teachers who have attained 30 years of creditable service to return to the classroom after certain qualifications have been met. This will allow school districts to ensure that quality teachers are in our classrooms. This program is already in place in Georgia, but it ends this June. HB 372 will ensure this program continues. This bill was heard during the interim in the Retirements Committee and an actuarial study was ordered. I anticipate this bill being heard on the House floor this week.

HOUSE BILL 487 --This bill will require that computer science become a graduation requirement beginning in 2031. At the end of last session this bill was merged with SB 179 sponsored by Senator Clint Dixon, and is now listed under that bill number. It passed the House last year, and is now waiting for the Senate to agree to an amendment.

HOUSE BILL 1181 -- This bill will cut red tape in the titling process when a family member inherits an an automobile. HB 1181 PASSED THE HOUSE this week, and has been put into the Senate Public Safety Committee

HOUSE BILL 1220 -- This bill allows military students and students with IEPs, 504 plans, and other disabilities to waive some requirements for student scholarship organizations. This bill passed the House Education Committee last week and will be heard in House Rules this week.

HOUSE BILL 1325 -- This bill would require local boards of education to provide both parents and teachers opportunities to be involved in developing and updating student codes of conduct.

HOUSE PAGE PROGRAM

If your child is between the ages of 12 and 18 and would like to come participate in a House floor session, I would love to have them work with me one day as a House Page. They will see the inner workings of our governmental process, meet students from across the state, participate in a tour of the Capitol, and have fun! Their day at the Capitol will not be counted as a school absence. Please reach out to my administrative assistant at the link below to arrange this special day for your child. I can't wait to meet them!

LINKS AND INFORMATION

You can click the link below for our website and watch all our floor session days and committee meetings on livestream. If you want to catch up with previous years, all the meetings and floor sessions can be found in our archives. I look forward to continuing to represent your families, and I encourage you to contact me if you need assistance.