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