[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6619743,"mediaKeyId","2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e","parentId",2828984,"title","House passes bill aimed at boosting locally approved charter schools; opponents warn of erosion of local control","audioSeconds",5410,"startMs",6994000,"endMs",12404000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e&start=6994&end=12404","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e/thumbnail_6994000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6619743/Georgia/House-passes-bill-aimed-at-boosting-locally-approved-charter-schools-opponents-warn-of-erosion-of-local-control","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619743-59475084e2fd75d544ad1c6012f22330/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779113&Signature=g3kup3lrA3zbVSB4RKyducA9PLjZXpvzARcS-X5hyGmqTuA~Xj7bzs3ApllYKU3MQH9X11VRDWZjhroHPmWGMpiFvOKNx082Yi0Ku5SARxABnFmIW25qhn7SdIxitwpbe2L9ggO9N~A16CSrIEyCcAPgYS9B4OJNaPliW6dv94-jB7wRJxC8WPO-b4pdJivUrC3hLkgditkXlOijFc3AXNFgBvyW3oi1o49qUAVYBFRkoTK1vEDw0RdZOVS0iDFD1eucKaGhiSSJZITTmsWsN9jnkr851jMI1a3cnpLkuPI4L8scQ27AIej1Tvq7KSEiQSProgGDaC-BuCqvgch8pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-03-31T23:12:08.73Z","article","The House approved Senate Bill 82 after extended debate over local control, finance and the role of charter schools in Georgia’s public education system. Representative Scott Hilton, speaking for the bill, described it as “a common sense compromise bill” that would encourage school districts to approve more locally authorized public charter schools and require local boards to provide written rationales within 20 business days after denying a petition.

Under provisions explained on the floor, the bill would add transparency obligations for local boards, create district accountability triggers (loss of certain flexibility contracts in repeated denial cases) and offer up to $250,000 per year for three years as an incentive to local systems that approve new locally authorized charters. Supporters argued the changes would expand options for families; Representative Jones, who spoke in favor in chairs time, said the state has approved dozens of charters while local approvals are rare.

Opponents across the chamber called the measure coercive and said it undercuts elected school boards. Representative Lisa Campbell said the bill “erodes local control” and “will further defund our public schools,” calling the funding incentives “payoffs” and arguing the law pressures boards to approve petitions against their judgment. Representative Jasmine Clark and others warned the incentive grants are subject to appropriation and not guaranteed, and that the bill could force districts into difficult financial and accountability positions.

After the chair's time and minority report, the House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill; the clerk recorded the vote as yeas 107, nays 62. The sponsor said the measure focuses on expanding public charter options that remain within public systems and overseen by public‑school teachers and retirement plans.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Session Day 38: 03.31.25 (PM)","oneSentenceSummary","The Georgia House approved Senate Bill 82, a bill that aims to increase the number of locally authorized public charter schools by adding reporting requirements, accountability triggers for repeated denials and a modest multi‑year incentive for districts that approve charters.","taxTitle","HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",15505,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619748,"House approves bill restricting release of student directory data to campaigns after debate on voter outreach in schools",2605,12813000,15418000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e&start=12813&end=15418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e/thumbnail_12813000.jpg","/articles/6619748/Georgia/House-approves-bill-restricting-release-of-student-directory-data-to-campaigns-after-debate-on-voter-outreach-in-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619748-5a1dbb9d992008bc08d4841d6631fb4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779113&Signature=aK32q2yOGTzX2-rP8eLCR56sySu3WTAF774yOq6LQo4-RxA~S2psz3N1UapL7Ikq2ArIlxTwM2jSVyb-rnvU7ktKqTsKuZtVMWD2PjCQpXXyLpxp24jXeW-qoctPysguwWSj5EYstKDlA8P0L0eegYE0AU8~XX4y4luRKlDsdC~1EeednmYUccrghLbPbjKc7r5Ww77TGd67A5PRuzfgnQlhMPkMStbRV~yfneKZB4Bkb0ehfXPtUMXe9r-wpWUGNynxFlvaOaU1zdZWUSP5DghhxS6v0DItHKwe4nIzzlmQnB2puogb3S9PT4xHPI7TgOiazqNvM9~QY4FHex8Urg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House passed Senate Bill 212, a bill that prohibits school districts from transferring student directory information to political candidates, campaign committees or political action committees and that restricts outside groups’ use of student data for political purposes. Chairman Todd Jones, carrying the house substitute, said the measure protects minors and fills a gap he said was not addressed by federal privacy law, including FERPA.

Jones told the chamber the bill “prohibits a school district from basically transferring that child's information to a campaign, a candidate, or a PAC” and that it was drafted after campaigns requested data from large districts. He added the bill contains an exception for legitimate school‑approved activities, noting: “If you go to lines 42 through 55, you will see that we want what you just said in turn of registration to vote.”

Opponents argued the bill’s language is vague and could deter nonpartisan civic groups and student organizations from conducting voter registration and civic outreach. Representative Sam Park and several other members said the measure’s prohibition on candidates “solicit[ing] individuals 18 to fraudulently organize an event” was not clearly defined and could chill speech. Representative Barnes, Representative Adena, and others warned the requirements for written attestations and the threat of penalties could make outside partners decline to participate in school‑based civic programs, disproportionately affecting students in under‑resourced districts.

Debate also included questions on implementation: sponsors said the bill leaves school staff exempt and added an attestation mechanism during House‑Senate negotiations. Following debate, the House adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill by recorded vote, the clerk announced the tally: yeas 98, nays 66.

Supporters framed the bill as protecting student privacy from commercial or political exploitation; opponents said the language needs tightening to avoid unintended consequences for civic education and student engagement.","The Georgia House passed Senate Bill 212, restricting disclosure of student directory information to political campaigns and PACs and adding new attestation requirements for outside groups conducting voter‑registration or political outreach at schools.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619752,"House adopts Riley Gaines Act limiting participation in female sports; bill draws hours of debate",4011,2393000,6404000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e&start=2393&end=6404","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e/thumbnail_2393000.jpg","/articles/6619752/Georgia/House-adopts-Riley-Gaines-Act-limiting-participation-in-female-sports-bill-draws-hours-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619752-2a1af09b84797f09b6ee9133e4993b3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779113&Signature=nWZwTJIid4Sr1wCb7KdC-77P~HNE1vaox8~YxUq8s4T5PYBTUbUQgaOKuNVuyYpYI04IEXH1yau0G7V-Xe4FFyRSUmDZoneqZJ3x7oHokuArOdHxy-NMJQQBFIDkW8OFk6G~w6653rVIgzKGlTlhbVaEUXrc34GlLgOZImFU-2mQSsZwKdBXeGSCo~t~2oT1Rgtnv4XCrHRJ74-lAJGAcgFerfHnFpIWuoaSzn-slhS8zza6LSIg6Zp7qcm4GFU0Gsie33fB2qD1~cxd7dFF8YirxzU~euu8lRZrqYVIQS3RiWCXylFCzPG9vJ-iN-ejVx3P9V76ytIgWlt9ajY23A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Georgia House passed Senate Bill 1 — the measure described in debate as the Riley Gaines Act — after several hours of discussion and questions from members on both sides of the chamber. Representative Bonner, who carried the bill on the floor, framed it as “a narrowly tailored common sense bill” intended to “maintain fairness in female athletics.”

The bill would require public and participating private schools and postsecondary institutions to designate teams as male, female or coed based on biological sex and prohibits males from competing on female teams, with limited exceptions where no female team exists. Representative Bonner told colleagues that the measure “provides an opportunity to provide a level playing field and ensure fair competition for female athletes in Georgia.”

Opponents said the bill would harm transgender students, invite harassment and expose school systems to litigation. Representative Jasmine Clark said the measure is “a license to harass, to bully, and to harm,” recounting incidents she said showed how policies policing appearance can lead to abusive encounters. Representative Eric Bell argued the bill “solves no problems because no problem exists,” citing the Georgia High School Association’s existing rules and saying there were no transgender athletes in Georgia public schools at the time of debate.

Other speakers raised related concerns: Representative Karen Lupton pointed to the range of groups testifying for and against the bill and said she had not seen widespread coach or school support for the measure; Representative Webb Park urged colleagues to consider the bill’s impact on the least vulnerable and warned of increased litigation; Representative Wilkerson and others raised questions about how sex verification would be handled in locker rooms and during competitions.

After committee steps on a committee substitute were adopted on the floor, the House voted to pass the bill. The clerk announced the tally: yays 100, nays 64. The bill will proceed to the next steps in the legislative process.

Reaction and next steps: supporters said the bill reaffirms protections for female athletes; opponents argued it duplicates existing policies, risks litigation and endangers students. Members asked for technical clarifications during debate about verification procedures and appeals; the bill’s final text incorporates committee-substitute language described by the sponsor during floor remarks.","The Georgia House passed Senate Bill 1, known in debate as the Riley Gaines Act, after several hours of floor debate on competitive fairness and protections for transgender students. The bill passed on a 100-64 vote following committee amendments and a lengthy series of questions from members on both sides of the aisle.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619733,"House approves law licensing and regulating ‘organic human reduction’ as a disposition option",539,18215000,18754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e&start=18215&end=18754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e/thumbnail_18215000.jpg","/articles/6619733/Georgia/House-approves-law-licensing-and-regulating-organic-human-reduction-as-a-disposition-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619733-34eafc15902b9c6f6e2fcb99db2aacd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779113&Signature=RsVaDz6-2-rOQVUQTht7FQhHkQRDu424hkaAZg~5D0kAY~BQJdQ0afShl4Cy94JyPfnVK1ZOWZqfBoOgZdk-uuysnUps9yoKOqxObq1laRrx1LlG~qD-Cj8-54JlPPYigFz3fE96jBAdqTLGiVnL2JX1sy7oFjjLm8DnrKgTGZamnfqu5howYpCo4kTls1s7BSlvzMlct3R-iw5lNI6IoLXQW5bQ7bvBpg3ryVwAS~7eZDt0eeL5iZoTY~2xRDykbwnkFvXg~drydfI~Xo0fq2U~eZz-g~JyzeC0qK~Be4CxCpiuWxlGvVxB06ehBL6y2Tvs4PkhcHMJmPEG0HTduQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House passed Senate Bill 241 to allow and regulate “organic human reduction,” commonly described on the floor as an environmentally oriented option for disposition of human remains. Chairman Powell, presenting the bill, said the measure establishes licensing and inspection requirements and safeguards for families who choose the practice.

Powell told members the bill adds “guardrails” and licensing to a new disposition method so that families choosing organic reduction have regulated providers and that health, safety and consumer protections are in place. Members of the funeral‑industry caucus spoke in favor; Representative Patty Stinson urged colleagues to support the industry and said the bill appropriately separates licensing for funeral directors and embalmers.

Floor remarks included light‑hearted exchanges about how the process works and whether it should be costly or affordable; sponsors stressed the bill’s optional nature and consumer protections. After limited questions and debate, the House adopted the committee substitute and voted to pass the bill; the clerk announced the tally: yeas 157, nays 4.

Supporters said SB 241 creates a regulated option for families seeking an environmentally framed disposition and protects consumers by requiring licensing, inspections and adherence to hygiene and safety standards; opponents did not mount a prolonged floor challenge.","The House passed Senate Bill 241, which creates a regulatory framework for so‑called organic human reduction (composting of human remains), including licensing, inspections and consumer protections. Sponsors said the measure provides guardrails for families choosing the option; supporters included funeral‑industry advocates.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6619738,"House agrees to expanded school‑safety bill requiring panic alerts, threat assessments and mental‑health specialists",848,15526000,16374000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e&start=15526&end=16374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2828984-0f9c77a79b70c07a977a353f54886c3e/thumbnail_15526000.jpg","/articles/6619738/Georgia/House-agrees-to-expanded-schoolsafety-bill-requiring-panic-alerts-threat-assessments-and-mentalhealth-specialists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619738-335751df80471c73b8db1a41f9489a16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779113&Signature=iFE2o5f0Ru6K4WguQK6gqJdm0Tl-JAJ9NHTSilBarb7Jwmv7eu11suO4Z-UyjGzvk0C2zUdUWULsmfm~VI7LDKn4A75TH0~AYhs3yiqZ2c81-W63XqNJcJIo3N1tWgfNNOxtsK3YMOifag7dGuuiEslkRgvbU89du6ft97DWxwSxZmc6LTasFogQ0QU41T3C9gNRm7uYLSkyU-q2CrIIu6laVc5b4MxsCxypzWtYlVfrC9ElQmrCFAyQ82JZcHKRtfzyk6o5NUuVdvuGTvtssfj38p71rukMmaWfL~mfTrMAoQR6HK6De7pNR5WiMedgyAJeag415P076-Qxqrgtsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House agreed to the Senate substitute of House Bill 268, enlarging a school‑safety package that lawmakers said was prompted by the Apalachee school shooting and other recent incidents. Representative Persinger, carrying the bill, said the substitute incorporates ‘‘Alyssa’s Law’’ requiring mobile panic‑alert systems and requires digital mapping data to be shared with state and local emergency responders.

The bill also requires school systems to adopt threat‑assessment plans — multidisciplinary procedures to identify and mitigate threats — and establishes a grant program to fund “qualified student advocacy specialists” (behavioral‑health coordinators) for districts based on student population. Persinger said smaller districts could receive one grant‑funded coordinator while larger districts would be eligible for more.

Members asked implementation questions on timing and funding. Representative Roberts asked whether mapping requirements (described in debate as already present in many safety plans) had dedicated funding; the sponsor said mapping was largely already in place and the bill codifies and standardizes mapping and alert requirements. Representatives asked for specifics: how many coordinators per district, the July 2026 mapping deadline and whether alert badges would be deployed to staff. Persinger and supporters said grants in the budget would fund the positions and that alert devices are envisioned for school staff, similar to panic badges used at the Capitol.

The House adopted the Senate substitute on a roll call vote, the clerk announced the tally: yeas 154, nays 12. Sponsors described the bill as a combination of technology, procedures and mental‑health resources intended to improve early detection and response to school threats; advocates and some members said implementation funding and timelines will require follow‑up work.","House members agreed to the Senate substitute to House Bill 268, a comprehensive school‑safety package that incorporates a mobile panic alert system (Alyssa’s Law), standardized digital mapping for first responders, multi‑disciplinary threat‑assessment plans and grant‑funded behavioral‑health positions. The House approved the substitute 154‑12.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House passes bill aimed at boosting locally approved charter schools; opponents warn of erosion of local control

House approves bill restricting release of student directory data to campaigns after debate on voter outreach in schools

House adopts Riley Gaines Act limiting participation in female sports; bill draws hours of debate

House approves law licensing and regulating ‘organic human reduction’ as a disposition option

House agrees to expanded school‑safety bill requiring panic alerts, threat assessments and mental‑health specialists