UNDER THE GOLD DOME

LEGISLATIVE WEEK 11

HEADED TO SINE DIE

My House colleagues and I returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 23, for Legislative Day 36, marking the start of the 11^th and second to last week of the 2026 legislative session. It was another action-packed work week, including three legislative days and two committee workdays, as the House continued working diligently to advance bills and resolutions before the legislative session comes to an end. The Georgia General Assembly completed Legislative Day 38 by the end of the week, leaving just one legislative day before we reach Legislative Day 40, or Sine Die, on April 2. As the final day of the legislative session, Sine Die marks the last opportunity for bills to pass both chambers and be sent to the governor’s desk for his signature or veto this year. Any legislation that does not receive final passage by this deadline cannot become law this year, making the final days of session among the busiest and most consequential.

NOTABLE LEGISLATION

This week, the House unanimously passed Senate Bill 542, legislation aimed at strengthening punishments for individuals who abuse positions of spiritual trust. Specifically, the bill would create the offenses of improper sexual conduct by a clergy member in both the first and second degrees. A clergy member—defined as a minister, priest, rabbi, imam or similar functionary of a bona fide religious organization—would be guilty of such offense if they knowingly engage in sexually explicit conduct or sexual contact with a victim through coercion or intimidation while acting within a pastoral counseling or spiritual authority relationship. SB 542 would define this counseling or spiritual authority relationship as a situation in which the clergy member provides spiritual guidance, religious instruction, mentoring or emotional or spiritual support and is viewed as having influence, trust or authority over another person’s spiritual, emotional or personal well-being. An individual convicted of improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the first degree would face imprisonment between one to 25 years and a fine of up to $100,000. An individual convicted of improper sexual contact by a clergy member in the second degree would, upon a first conviction, be punished for a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. Upon a second or subsequent conviction, the offense would be elevated to a felony, punishable by imprisonment between one to five years. Lastly, SB 542 would establish a 15-year statute of limitations, ensuring victims and survivors have additional time to come forward. By establishing these clear penalties and definitions, the bill reinforces the seriousness of abusing positions of spiritual authority and the breach of trust between a clergy member and a congregant.

EDUCATION

Senate Bill 150 also passed this week, which seeks to strengthen our education workforce by extending the provision allowing retired public-school teachers in Georgia to return to the profession in areas of highest need, updating the program’s expiration to June 30, 2030. Under the bill, retired teachers with at least 30 years of creditable full-time service teaching pre-K through 12^th grade would be eligible to return to the classroom. The bill would also allow for retired teachers to continue to receive their retirement allowance, as well as any post-retirement benefits that they may qualify for, alongside their teaching compensation. The bill characterizes areas of highest need as the three subjects with the highest rates of unfilled classroom teacher positions. These areas would be determined annually for each school system by the Department of Education after a meeting with the Professional Standards Commission (PSC). Examples of these areas of highest need include mathematics, special education, science, Career, Technical and Agricultural Education, reading, writing or English language arts. Retired teachers who wish to return to subjects of reading, writing or language arts would be required to hold a current dyslexia or reading endorsement approved by the PSC. SB 150 seeks to empower retired teachers to reenter the classroom, providing them with opportunities to continue their careers while strengthening Georgia’s education system by keeping classrooms fully staffed and supporting the needs of a growing student population.

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 PASSED THE HOUSE unanimously. HB 372 was merged with SB 150 which PASSED THE HOUSE unanimously this week. It will now go back to the Senate so that chamber can agree to the changes to the bill.

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. The House agreed to the changes in SB 179, and it received FINAL PASSAGE and is on its way to Governor Kemp's desk.

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 bill received FINAL PASSAGE last week unanimously and is now awaiting Governor Kemp's signature.

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. HB 1220 PASSED THE HOUSE. The language from this bill was placed in HB 328 when it was amended by the senate. It will come back to the House this week for final passage.

HOUSE RESOLUTION 1529 -- This resolution proposes the formation of a House study committee that will examine the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) that measures school district performance. This resolution passed the House Special Rules Committee unanimously and will hopefully be chosen to be one of our interim study committees.

HOUSE BILL 1555 -- This bill de-annexes the road beds of Highway 96 and Housers Mill Road and moves them from the City of Fort Valley into unincorporated Peach County. This bill received FINAL PASSAGE and is on its way to the governor's desk.

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.