All Roll Calls
Yes: 214 • No: 1
GeorgiaSB 1232025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Compulsory Attendance; provisions of the state's compulsory school attendance laws; update and revise
Sponsored By: John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Jason T. Dickerson (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Greg Dolezal (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Steve Gooch (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Steven McNeel (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican)
Became Law
EducationEducation and YouthGeneral Bill
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
New help for chronically absent students
Beginning July 1, 2025, a student is chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of enrolled school days, not counting the first day. Each district must have a policy to find and help these students. Districts with 10% or more chronic absence and schools with 15% or more must form an attendance review team. Teams meet at least monthly and include school staff and the parent or guardian. The team reviews cases and sets plans to improve attendance.
County attendance protocols and oversight
Beginning July 1, 2025, each county’s attendance and school climate committee must meet by November 1, 2025 and at least twice a year after. By June 1, 2026, the committee must adopt and file with the Department of Education a written protocol for each local school system. The protocol explains how the county will identify, report, investigate, and prosecute attendance violations, find causes, and address tardiness and chronic absence. The committee must also write a summary of penalties and consequences, including possible driver's license denial, and schools and agencies must give it to families. Starting November 1, 2026, and every even-numbered year, the Department posts county reports on attendance and aggregated discipline and sends them to state lawmakers.
Learning pods count for attendance
Beginning July 1, 2025, your child is counted present if they join a learning pod that runs the remote option from their school. The pod must use the remote program offered by your child’s primary education provider. While in that program, your child is not treated as truant under state law.
School attendance ages 6 to 16
Beginning July 1, 2025, children must attend school from age 6 until their 16th birthday. Attendance can be at a public school, private school, or a home study program. If a child has finished a high school diploma or a state-approved high school equivalency, compulsory attendance no longer applies.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
John Albers
Republican • Senate
Jason Anavitarte
Republican • Senate
Lee Anderson
Republican • Senate
Jason T. Dickerson
Republican • Senate
Matt Brass
Republican • Senate
Bill Cowsert
Republican • Senate
Clint Dixon
Republican • Senate
Greg Dolezal
Republican • Senate
Drew Echols
Republican • Senate
Steve Gooch
Republican • Senate
Bo Hatchett
Republican • Senate
Billy Hickman
Republican • Senate
Mike Hodges
Republican • Senate
Chuck Hufstetler
Republican • Senate
Steven McNeel
Republican • Senate
Kay Kirkpatrick
Republican • Senate
Chuck Payne
Republican • Senate
Randy Robertson
Republican • Senate
Shawn Still
Republican • Senate
Brian Strickland
Republican • Senate
Ben Watson
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Matt Dubnik
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/25/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 160 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/26/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 54 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective Date
7/1/2025Senate Date Signed by Governor
4/28/2025SenateAct 16
4/28/2025Senate Sent to Governor
4/7/2025SenateHouse Third Readers
3/25/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
3/25/2025HouseHouse Committee Favorably Reported
3/21/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
2/28/2025HouseHouse First Readers
2/27/2025HouseSenate Third Read
2/26/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted
2/26/2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
2/19/2025SenateSenate Committee Favorably Reported
2/18/2025SenateSenate Read and Referred
2/10/2025SenateSenate Hopper
2/6/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB 123/AP* (v5)
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