# Georgia HB 1164: Education; require State Board of Education to appoint an audit committee Georgia HB 1164, Education; require State Board of Education to appoint an audit committee, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Kasey Carpenter (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican), Matthew Gambill (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1164-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Georgia HB 1164 - State: Georgia - Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session - Title: Education; require State Board of Education to appoint an audit committee - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-03 - Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date - Sponsors: Kasey Carpenter (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican), Matthew Gambill (Republican), Matt Hatchett (Republican), Jan Jones (Republican), Will Wade (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Education, Education and Youth, General Bill - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (152 yes, 70 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Families can find school financial reports: benefit, low. School systems and state charter schools with websites must prominently link to the state education department’s financial information page. It includes budgets, personnel reports, five years of audits, financial warning findings, and required education sales-tax information when applicable. Modera… - Financially troubled schools must report spending: benefit, low. The state audit department must audit every local school system and state charter school labeled moderate-risk or high-risk. It must report financial irregularities, deficits, and significant warning signs to state education officials and the relevant governing body. Within 60 days of designation,… - School audits must include parent input: benefit, low. With its director’s approval, the Office of Student Achievement may review how local education agencies use and report legal waivers. Reviews check waiver agreements, student results for the current and preceding three school years, and signs of misuse or reporting problems. On-site school performa… - School money gets stronger misconduct safeguards: benefit, low. Covered school officials and employees cannot hold state aid or other public funds in personal bank accounts, even briefly. This covers local systems, state charter schools, University System of Georgia institutions, and other schools receiving state aid. Beginning July 1, 2026, the state auditor m… - School oversight tracks overdue benefit payments: benefit, low. Georgia’s State Board of Education must appoint an audit committee that meets at least six times each fiscal year. State audit staff and a State Charter Schools Commission representative must attend. The committee reviews school financial controls and reports on schools at moderate or high financia… - Schools face annual financial audit checks: benefit, low. The state must perform or arrange yearly financial and compliance audits and issue reports. This covers local school systems, state charter schools, University System of Georgia units, and other schools receiving state aid. Covered school audits must follow government accounting and auditing standa… - High-risk schools face tighter leadership limits: cost, low. Local school flexibility contracts must let the State Board of Education change or end them after notice of high-risk status. Charter system agreements must provide similar authority after notice of the specified high-risk state charter school designation. While a local school system is high-risk,… - Emergency-tier schools lose early state funding: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Tier 4—Critical Fiscal Emergency school systems and state charter schools cannot receive state education funds early. This applies to advance distributions under the Quality Basic Education Act. An advance remains available only when the state auditor recommends it and the S… - Schools get tiered financial risk oversight: mixed, medium. By July 1, 2026, Georgia must begin financial monitoring for every local school system and state charter school. Full implementation is required by the start of the 2028–2029 school year. Four tiers range from Fiscally Sound to Fiscal Watch, Fiscal Distress, and Critical Fiscal Emergency, with incr… - Schools get auditor options with safeguards: mixed, low. Local school systems and state charter schools must arrange annual audits and submit signed certifications by December 31 each year. School leaders, finance officers, and board chairs must certify audit readiness and current health-plan, retirement-system, and Department of Labor payments; noncompl… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Kasey Carpenter (Republican), House - Sponsor: Chris Erwin (Republican), House - Sponsor: Matthew Gambill (Republican), House - Sponsor: Matt Hatchett (Republican), House - Sponsor: Jan Jones (Republican), House - Sponsor: Will Wade (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Billy Hickman (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-23 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 49 | 2 | 4 | | 2026-02-26 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 103 | 68 | 7 | ## Actions (16) - 2026-07-01: Effective Date - 2026-05-12: House Date Signed by Governor (House) - 2026-05-12: Act 721 - 2026-04-06: House Sent to Governor (House) - 2026-03-23: Senate Third Read (Senate) - 2026-03-23: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-16: Senate Read Second Time (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate) - 2026-03-03: Senate Read and Referred (Senate) - 2026-02-26: House Third Readers (House) - 2026-02-26: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House) - 2026-02-25: House Postponed (House) - 2026-02-20: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House) - 2026-02-05: House Second Readers (House) - 2026-02-04: House First Readers (House) - 2026-02-03: House Hopper (House) ## Bill text - HB 1164/AP* (v6): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247123) ## Related bills - SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed) - SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed) - SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed) - SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed) - HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed) - HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed) ## Sources - [HB 1164/AP* (v6) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247123) ## Related - [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026) - [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026) - [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026) - [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026) - [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026) - [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026) - [Georgia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia/bills) - [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1164-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).