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HB1239 • 2025

Student Civic Participation and Encouragement Act; enact

Student Civic Participation and Encouragement Act; enact

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Berry, Bryce
Last action
2026-02-10
Official status
House Second Readers
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill summary confirms definitions are included in the act, but the specific wording of those definitions is not available in the provided text excerpts.

Student Civic Participation and Encouragement Act

This bill requires local school systems in Georgia to adopt a policy granting students at least two excused absences per year for attending or participating in civic or political events.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the local governing body of each school system and public school to adopt a policy providing not less than two excused absences per school year for attending or participating in a civic or political event.
  • Directs the State Board of Education to develop a model policy.
  • Provides definitions needed for the law.
  • Repeals conflicting laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local governing bodies of school systems
  • Public schools
  • Students in elementary and secondary education

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text does not list specific examples of what events qualify as civic or political.
  • The exact effective date is mentioned as a provision but the specific date is not provided in the source material.
  • The bill summary does not explain how schools must verify that a student attended an event.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-10 Georgia General Assembly

    House Second Readers

Official Summary Text

Student Civic Participation and Encouragement Act; enact