# Georgia SB 44: Equalization Grants, Annual Calculations, and Allocation; the definition of the term "qualified local school system" by reducing the minimum required millage rate; revise

Georgia SB 44, Equalization Grants, Annual Calculations, and Allocation; the definition of the term "qualified local school system" by reducing the minimum required millage rate; revise, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2025-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB44-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia SB 44
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Equalization Grants, Annual Calculations, and Allocation; the definition of the term "qualified local school system" by reducing the minimum required millage rate; revise
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-28
- Last action: 2025-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), John F. Kennedy (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Education, Rules, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (189 yes, 23 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Lower grant threshold for Georgia schools: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, Georgia school systems can meet the equalization grant tax-rate requirement with 10 mills, down from 14. An equivalent tax rate also counts. Systems must still have assessed property value per weighted student count below the law's guaranteed value. Their effective tax rate…
- Grant cuts for schools lowering tax rates: cost, low. Georgia school systems face a grant cut when they lower their operating tax rate after next year's grant is calculated. If their actual or equivalent rate falls below the required minimum, they receive 75% of the initial grant. Beginning July 1, 2025, that minimum is 10 mills. By September 1 each y…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Russ Goodman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: John F. Kennedy (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Carden Summers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sam Watson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Chas Cannon (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-28 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 138 | 23 | 3 |
| 2025-02-13 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 51 | 0 |   |

## Actions (17)

- 2025-07-01: Effective Date
- 2025-05-14: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2025-05-14: Act 280
- 2025-04-07: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: House Third Readers (House)
- 2025-03-28: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2025-03-18: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2025-02-19: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-02-18: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-02-13: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-02-11: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Senate Recommitted (Senate)
- 2025-02-06: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 44/AP* (v7): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/238132)

## 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
- [SB 44/AP* (v7) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/238132)

## 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)
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- [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB44-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).