# Georgia HB 1193: Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026; enact Georgia HB 1193, Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026; enact, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Jon Burns (Republican), Matt Dubnik (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2026-05-05 (House Date Signed by Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1193-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Georgia HB 1193 - State: Georgia - Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session - Title: Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026; enact - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-04 - Last action: 2026-05-05, House Date Signed by Governor - Sponsors: Jon Burns (Republican), Matt Dubnik (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican), Gerald Greene (Republican), Matt Hatchett (Republican), Jan Jones (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Education, Appropriations, General Bill - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (387 yes, 2 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 13 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Full-day kindergarten available for Georgia families: benefit, medium. Every Georgia local school system must offer full-day kindergarten. Programs must provide at least 4.5 hours of classroom instruction daily for 180 days, or an approved equivalent schedule. This requirement makes the program available; it does not itself require children to attend. - Pre-K access for four- and five-year-olds: benefit, medium. Children who turn four or five by September 1 qualify for Georgia’s voluntary Pre-K Program. Enrollment requires a parent’s or guardian’s request and an available seat. Four- and five-year-olds must receive equal treatment when seats are assigned. Each child can attend for only one year. - Georgia coordinates reading help for families: benefit, low. The Office of Student Achievement must employ a State Literacy Director and a literacy-coach coordinator. State literacy leaders coordinate programs, update Georgia’s literacy plan, review local and early-childhood efforts, and recommend policy and funding changes. The office must run a family lite… - Schools get free reading screening tools: benefit, low. By April 1, 2028, the state must approve two to five reading screeners, including at least one free option. The task force recommends the list, which is updated every three years; the board cannot approve an unrecommended screener. Each public school and school system must adopt and use an approved… - Schools get grants for reading coaches: benefit, low. Subject to state appropriations, grants reimburse beginning salary and benefits for one literacy coach per eligible school serving any kindergarten-through-third grade. Schools with 200 or fewer full-time-equivalent students receive 50% of the full grant. Coaches need state certification, five year… - Teachers gain a reading-coach credential: benefit, low. By December 31, 2026, the state must establish a literacy-coaching credential for teachers and other certified school staff. Training covers evidence-based reading instruction, reading screeners, parent guidance, and support for other school staff. Beginning January 1, 2027, approved teacher-prepar… - School reading funds require approved materials: cost, medium. Beginning in 2029–2030, schools cannot use Article 6 state education funds for unapproved kindergarten-through-third-grade reading materials. Materials must have State Board approval following a Georgia Literacy Task Force recommendation. The task force must recommend two to five high-quality readi… - Schools need literacy plans for approvals: cost, low. By January 1, 2027, every public-school governing body must adopt a unified literacy plan. Starting then, school systems without a plan cannot receive specified waivers or variances or enter or renew specified state contracts. New and renewal petitions for local and state charter schools must inclu… - First graders get help, face retention: mixed, high. Beginning in 2027–2028, first graders at serious risk of missing grade-level reading goals must receive intensive help and reassessment. Schools must notify parents or guardians. A child who remains at risk must repeat first grade unless a parent appeals and a placement committee unanimously approv… - Readiness checks shape children’s first-grade entry: mixed, high. Children generally must attend full-day kindergarten before first grade, unless they meet age rules and are assessed as ready. The age rule generally requires turning six by September 1, with a statutory exception. Parents can request a readiness assessment; approved tools, teacher input, reading s… - Students face clearer grade-promotion rules: mixed, high. Local public-school governing bodies must adopt placement and promotion policies by July 1, 2026. The State Board must adopt criteria for grades one, three, five, and eight by January 1, 2027. Policies must explain how grades one through eight tests and first-grade reading assessments affect instru… - Schools must meet reading-material quality standards: mixed, medium. Public schools must use only high-quality reading materials based on the science of reading in kindergarten through third grade. Local school governing bodies must approve these materials, and schools and systems must certify their quality each year. By March 1, 2027, the State Board must approve m… - Teachers get free reading training: mixed, low. Public-school kindergarten-through-third-grade teachers receive access to free statewide reading training no later than the 2027–2028 school year. Training covers structured reading instruction, approved materials, and reading screeners, and also supports literacy coaches. Schools must provide rese… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jon Burns (Republican), House - Sponsor: Matt Dubnik (Republican), House - Sponsor: Chris Erwin (Republican), House - Sponsor: Gerald Greene (Republican), House - Sponsor: Matt Hatchett (Republican), House - Sponsor: Jan Jones (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Blake Tillery (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 49 | 0 | 3 | | 2026-03-31 | House | Agree to Senate Substitute | pass | 168 | 0 | 5 | | 2026-02-24 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 170 | 2 | 4 | ## Actions (17) - 2026-05-05: House Date Signed by Governor (House) - 2026-05-05: Act 391 - 2026-05-05: Effective Date - 2026-04-10: House Sent to Governor (House) - 2026-03-31: Senate Third Read (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-31: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House) - 2026-03-25: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-25: Senate Read Second Time (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Senate Withdrawn & Recommitted (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Senate Read and Referred (Senate) - 2026-02-24: House Third Readers (House) - 2026-02-24: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House) - 2026-02-12: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House) - 2026-02-06: House Second Readers (House) - 2026-02-05: House First Readers (House) - 2026-02-04: House Hopper (House) ## Bill text - HB 1193/AP* (v13): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248642) ## 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 1193/AP* (v13) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248642) ## 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-HB1193-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).