Education Subcommittees Meeting
policy and innovation subcommittee
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Feb 02, 2026 at 01:00 PM
Meeting Information
This meeting brought together the Policy and Innovation Subcommittee and the Curriculum and Academic Achievements Subcommittee to discuss several legislative proposals. Key topics included student-athlete rights regarding Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), support systems for at-risk students through completion schools, school safety measures like weapons detection systems, expanding access to college career academies, and the extension of cell phone bans in high schools.
Meeting Summary
NIL in High School Sports (House Bill 383)
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The committee discussed House Bill 383, which aims to codify existing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules for high school athletes in Georgia, primarily to protect student-athletes from long-term agent contracts. [Video 00:25:40]
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The bill ensures that NIL contracts for high school athletes become null and void ten days after graduation, requiring renegotiation at the collegiate level to prevent agents from taking a percentage of future professional earnings. [Video 00:27:37]
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Concerns were raised about the inclusion of eighth-grade athletes and the absence of a cap on earnings, but the bill's author emphasized the focus on protecting students from predatory contracts and allowing local associations to educate on financial management. [Video 00:29:47]
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The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) supported the bill, noting that it aligns with their current policies and addresses potential issues with long-term contracts, while also clarifying that most NIL deals are minor. [Video 00:38:50]
Completion Schools and Student Support (House Bill 907)
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House Bill 907 aims to expand and improve completion schools (formerly alternative schools) to provide options for at-risk students and ensure they can graduate, with several regional completion schools already operating or in development. [Video 00:42:24]
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The bill mandates that completion schools provide information to affiliated school systems twice a year, which must then be made available electronically and physically to students and parents to ensure awareness of these options. [Video 00:46:29]
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It clarifies that students have the right to attend a completion school without needing permission from their home school, with administrative logistics to be handled between the schools, and accountability for test scores remaining with the home school until age 18. [Video 00:47:50]
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The legislation also includes provisions for resident school systems to provide leads to completion schools about students who are at risk of dropping out, enabling outreach and support to help them graduate. [Video 00:52:52]
Weapons Detection Systems in Public Schools (House Bill 1023)
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House Bill 1023 proposes to mandate the implementation of one or more weapons detection systems at points of entry to public school buildings intended for student and public use, excluding locked or alarmed entrances not for daily student use. [Video 00:59:31]
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The bill allows local school systems to use available grant funding for implementation and provides flexibility for each school to determine the best system, with the objective of not creating an unfunded mandate. [Video 01:01:09]
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Opponents raised concerns about the effectiveness of such systems, citing studies showing no reduction in violence, and highlighted the potential for significant financial and operational burdens on large school campuses with multiple entrances. [Video 01:11:56]
Expanding College Career Academies Access (House Bill 971)
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House Bill 971 is a cleanup bill allowing homeschool and private school students to attend college career academies in adjoining counties or RISA districts, with the host school system collecting FTE funding and parents not incurring costs. [Video 01:28:26]
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The bill is an opt-in program for school systems and aims to fill available seats in career academy programs, treating all participating students equally, including their ability to compete in co-curricular organizations. [Video 01:30:06]
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A principal from the Golden Isles College and Career Academy testified in support, noting a high demand from neighboring counties for homeschool students to access their career and technical education programs. [Video 01:39:20]
Extending Cell Phone Ban to High Schools (House Bill 1009)
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House Bill 1009 proposes to extend the K-8 cell phone ban to high schools, citing positive impacts on student focus, mental health, and safety based on early results from the previous K-8 ban. [Video 01:44:14]
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The bill includes minor changes from the previous legislation, such as eliminating e-readers from the ban and pushing the implementation to the 2027-2028 school year for high schools, while excluding students in off-campus programs like dual enrollment. [Video 01:45:11]
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Proponents highlighted data showing improved grades, reduced fights, increased test scores, and better student interaction in schools with cell phone bans, advocating for a 'bell to bell' policy to maximize effectiveness and reduce teacher burden. [Video 01:48:31]
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Witnesses shared personal testimonies and survey data from educators, indicating strong support for the ban due to reduced distractions, improved student focus, and decreased bullying, while also addressing concerns about emergency communication with solutions like quick-release pouches. [Video 01:59:03]
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on Feb 02, 2026
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