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Georgia revises promise scholarship eligibility, private school reporting rules, and student attendance reporting
Original title: Education; require possession of opioid antagonists by institutions within University System of Georgia
Last action · March 31, 2026: Senate TabledSponsors: Lee Hawkins and 6 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
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What This Bill Proposed
Georgia House Bill 419 adjusts the state's program by revising family income prioritization rules, updating private school fiscal and accreditation requirements, and setting a $6,500 initial annual grant per student. The measure also establishes new student attendance and performance reporting mandates for the Office of Student Achievement and Department of Education.
Why it matters
Participating families and private schools face new compliance deadlines, fiscal soundness documentation rules, and reporting standards, while the state caps annual scholarship allocations at 1 percent of the prior year's .
Background
- House Bill 419 addresses educational reporting, attendance monitoring, and the regulation of promise scholarship accounts within the state of Georgia. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Promise scholarship account participants
Students and parents receiving promise scholarship accounts are subject to new income prioritization rules, fund rollover limits, and qualification criteria.
Directly affected
Participating private schools
Private schools enrolling scholarship students must submit fiscal soundness documentation, annual student attendance and course completion reports, and maintain accreditation timelines.
Directly affected
Local school systems
Local school systems must provide requested student data to the education savings authority for fiscal impact statements and reporting requirements.
Key Facts
- The total state funds allotted to the promise scholarship program each fiscal year shall not exceed 1 percent of the total appropriation for the Quality Basic Education Program from the previous fiscal year.
- The initial annual account funds granted to each participating student shall be $6,500.00 for the first school year, subject to subsequent adjustments based on the Quality Basic Education Formula.
- Student family income generally must not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify, with quarterly exceptions if program appropriations exceed demand.
- Participating private schools must demonstrate fiscal soundness, submit annual aggregate data on student attendance and course completion, and comply with antidiscrimination provisions under 42 U.S.C. Section 2000d.
Show all 8 facts
- Unused allocated funds in a promise scholarship account up to 50 percent of total deposits may roll over to the following school year, but accounts inactive for eight consecutive quarters or after high school graduation revert to the state general fund.
- The education savings authority must annually conduct random fraud detection and prevention audits of at least 5 percent of participating student accounts.
- The Office of Student Achievement must publish a separate list of public schools performing in the lowest 25 percent of statewide ratings, subject to specific statutory exclusions.
- The Act becomes effective immediately upon approval by the Governor or upon becoming law without approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the initial scholarship amount for participating students?
The initial annual account funds granted to each participating student shall be $6,500.00 for the first school year.
What income threshold applies to student eligibility?
Generally, a student's family income must not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level, though exceptions apply if appropriated funds exceed demand for eligible applicants.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Tabled in the Senate.
Procedural history
13 actions- Mar 31, 2026SenateSenate Tabled
- Mar 27, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Mar 27, 2026SenateSenate Read Second Time
- Mar 25, 2026SenateSenate Withdrawn & Recommitted
- Feb 19, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
- Feb 18, 2026HouseHouse Third Readers
Show 7 earlier actions
- Feb 18, 2026HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- Feb 12, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Apr 4, 2025HouseHouse Withdrawn, Recommitted
- Mar 6, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Feb 18, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Feb 13, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Feb 12, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
Version history & redline
4 versions on fileComparing LC 61 0188S/hcs → Sen Ctee Sub LC 61 0508S
removed addedOfficial text
26 LC 61 removed: 0188S
House Bill 419 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By: Representatives Hawkins of the 27th , Gambill of the 15th , Martin of the 49th , Jackson of
the 128th , Mathis of the 133 rd , and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to require the possession of opioid antagonists by institutions within the University System of Georgia and units within the Technical College System of Georgia; to provide for definitions; to provide for possession of opioid antagonists by certain individuals; to require the maintenance of a stock supply of opioid antagonists; to provide for the use and location of opioid antagonist storage compartments; to authorize certain personnel to administer opioid antagonists and carry opioid antagonists; to provide for immunity; to provide that neither civil liability nor professional discipline shall accrue to personnel, the systems, or institutions or units thereof; to provide for an exception; to amend Code Section 31-2A-20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to accessibility to opioid antagonists in government buildings and courthouses, guidelines and training, and limitations on liability, so as to make conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: PART I. SECTION 1-1. Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended in Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 3, relating to university system, by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "20-3-88. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Automated external defibrillator' means a defibrillator which: (A) Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis; (B) Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and (C) Is capable of continuous recording of the cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use. (2) 'Community funding source' means local sources of capital provided by local banking institutions, including credit unions, community foundations, county or municipal governments, businesses, or residents. Such funding sources may include grants, gifts, contracts, monetary donations, or loans. (3) 'Institution' means any college, school, academy, university, or experiment station at any particular location which forms a part of the university system. (4) 'Opioid antagonist' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 26-4-116.2. (5) 'Opioid antagonist storage compartment' means the structure in which opioid antagonists may be stored. (6) 'University system' means the University System of Georgia. (b) No student, visitor, or university system employee shall be prohibited from possessing an opioid antagonist on university system property or at a university system sponsored activity. (c) Subject to available funding from community funding sources, each institution shall acquire and maintain a supply of opioid antagonists in any secure location in such a quantity to be used for multiple opioid overdose events; provided, however, that, if there occurs a shortage of opioid antagonists, the institution shall make a reasonable effort to maintain its supply of opioid antagonists. Any such supply shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. (d) Subject to available funding from community funding sources, each institution maintaining one or more automated external defibrillators shall maintain opioid antagonists in an opioid antagonist storage compartment which shall be located within three feet of such defibrillators or as close as space reasonably allows. (e) Any university system personnel may administer an opioid antagonist to any person who the university system personnel believes in good faith to be experiencing an opioid overdose: (1) While at an institution; (2) While at a university system sponsored activity; (3) While under the supervision of university system personnel; or (4) Before or after normal institution activities. (f) Any university system personnel who in good faith administers or chooses not to administer an opioid antagonist shall be immune from civil liability or professional discipline for any act or omission to act related to the administration of an opioid antagonist, except that such immunity shall not apply to an act of willful or wanton misconduct. (g) Neither civil liability nor professional discipline shall accrue to university system personnel and no civil liability shall accrue to the university system or to any institution of such system due to the removal or misuse of an opioid antagonist or antagonists; provided, however, that immunity shall not apply to an act of willful or wanton misconduct." SECTION 1-2. Said title is further amended in Article 2 of Chapter 4, relating to technical and adult education, by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "20-4-39.1. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Automated external defibrillator' means a defibrillator which: (A) Is capable of cardiac rhythm analysis; (B) Will charge and be capable of being activated to deliver a countershock after electrically detecting the presence of certain cardiac dysrhythmias; and (C) Is capable of continuous recording of the cardiac dysrhythmia at the scene with a mechanism for transfer and storage or for printing for review subsequent to use. (2) 'Community funding source' means local sources of capital provided by local banking institutions, including credit unions, community foundations, county or municipal governments, businesses, or residents. Such funding sources may include grants, gifts, contracts, monetary donations, or loans. (3) 'Opioid antagonist' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 26-4-116.2. (4) 'Opioid antagonist storage compartment' means the structure in which opioid antagonist may be stored. (5) 'Technical college system' means the Technical College System of Georgia. (6) 'Unit' means any institution, college, school, academy, or experiment station at any particular location which forms a part of the technical college system. (b) No student, visitor, or technical college system employee shall be prohibited from possessing an opioid antagonist on technical college system property or at a technical college system sponsored activity. (c) Subject to available funding from community funding sources, each unit shall acquire and maintain a supply of opioid antagonists in any secure location in such a quantity to be used for multiple opioid overdose events; provided, however, that, if there occurs a shortage of opioid antagonists, the unit shall make a reasonable effort to maintain its supply of opioid antagonists. Any such supply shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. (d) Subject to available funding from community funding sources, each unit maintaining one or more automated external defibrillators shall maintain opioid antagonists in an opioid antagonist storage compartment which shall be located within three feet of such defibrillators or as close as space reasonably allows. (e) Any technical college system personnel may administer an opioid antagonist to any person who the technical college system personnel believes in good faith to be experiencing an opioid overdose: (1) While at a unit; (2) While at a technical college system sponsored activity; (3) While under the supervision of technical college system personnel; or (4) Before or after normal unit activities. (f) Any technical college system personnel who in good faith administers or chooses not to administer an opioid antagonist pursuant to this Code section shall be immune from civil liability or professional discipline for any act or omission to act related to the administration of an opioid antagonist, except that such immunity shall not apply to an act of willful or wanton misconduct. (g) Neither civil liability nor professional discipline shall accrue to technical college system personnel and no civil liability shall accrue to the technical college system or any unit of such system due to the removal or misuse of an opioid antagonist or antagonists; provided, however, that immunity shall not apply to an act of willful or wanton misconduct." PART II. SECTION 2-1. Code Section 31-2A-20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to accessibility to opioid antagonists in government buildings and courthouses, guidelines and training, and limitations on liability, is amended by revising subsection (a) as follows: "(a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Automated external defibrillator' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 31-11-53.1. (2) 'Courthouse' means a building occupied by judicial courts and containing rooms in which judicial proceedings are held, provided that such building contains an automated external defibrillator. (3) 'Government entity' means any state board, commission, agency, or department, or the governing authority of any county, municipality, or consolidated government, but such term shall not include local school systems, public schools, charter schools, or university buildings the University System of Georgia, or the Technical College System of Georgia. (4) 'Opioid antagonist' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 26-4-116.2. (5) 'Opioid related overdose' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 26-4-116.2. (6) 'Qualified government building' means a building in which a government entity is housed or meets in its official capacity, including the portion occupied by a government entity of any building that is not publicly owned, provided that such building contains an automated external defibrillator, but such term shall not include a university building. (7) 'University building' means any building which forms a part of the University System of Georgia, including any college or university under the government, control, and management of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, or any building under the control of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia." PART III. added: 0508S
The Senate Committee on Education and Youth offered the following
substitute to HB 419:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to provide for reports regarding student attendance; to provide for reports regarding the Georgia special needs scholarship program; to clarify provisions relative to accreditation of private schools participating in the promise scholarship program; to repeal the authority of the State Board of Education to authorize qualified education expenses; to revise a provision relative to term of public school enrollment required to qualify as a participating student; to clarify what financial information shall be submitted by private schools to participate in the program; to provide for limits on eligibility for nonaccredited private schools to enroll participating students; to clarify provisions for the annual adjustment of account funds; to provide for allocation of account funds rather than account payments; to require that authorized reimbursable education expenses shall be preapproved by the education savings authority; to provide for covering costs of administering the program; to revise provisions relative to annual reporting requirements for the education savings authority; to provide for schools that shall not be included in the separate list of public schools annually reported by the Office of Student Achievement; to provide for a complete list of public schools; to make conforming changes; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: PART I SECTION 1-1. Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended in Code Section 20-2-690.2, relating to student attendance and school climate committees, by revising subsection (i) as follows: "(i) Beginning in 2026 2027, by November July 1 of each even-numbered 30,257 more added characters - read this versionAll laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift95% confidence
Restructuring of Scholarship Account Oversight
The bill shifts several administrative mechanisms for promise scholarship accounts, introducing explicit audit requirements, quarterly application deadlines, and stricter fiscal soundness checks for participating private schools.
Connected Entities
OrganizationDepartment of Education“State education agency responsible for data reporting and student attendance”Map →
OrganizationEducation Savings Authority“Authority administering promise scholarship accounts and rules”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Early Care and Learning“Department managing pre-kindergarten and child care programs”Map →
OrganizationOffice of Student Achievement“State office responsible for annual reports and school performance lists”Map →
OrganizationTechnical College System of Georgia“Governance system for technical and adult education”Map →
OrganizationProfessional Standards Commission“Commission overseeing educator certification and workforce reports”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Audits and Accounts“Department responsible for annual program audits”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 80)
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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