# Georgia SB 601: Atlanta Board of Education; residency limitations on qualifications for employment of the executive assistant to the board, chief financial officer, and internal auditor; remove

Georgia SB 601, Atlanta Board of Education; residency limitations on qualifications for employment of the executive assistant to the board, chief financial officer, and internal auditor; remove, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Sonya Halpern (Democrat), Sally Harrell (Democrat), Jaha Howard (Democrat) and 4 others; status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (Senate Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB601-2025-2026
- 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 601
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Atlanta Board of Education; residency limitations on qualifications for employment of the executive assistant to the board, chief financial officer, and internal auditor; remove
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-25
- Last action: 2026-05-12, Senate Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsors: Sonya Halpern (Democrat), Sally Harrell (Democrat), Jaha Howard (Democrat), RaShaun Kemp (Democrat), Josh McLaurin (Democrat), Nan Orrock (Democrat), Elena Parent (Democrat)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (143 yes, 75 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Atlanta school jobs drop residency limits: benefit, low. The law removes residency requirements for three senior Atlanta school district jobs. These are the board’s executive assistant, chief financial officer, and internal auditor. Applicants no longer need to meet those residency requirements.
- Stronger board oversight in Atlanta schools: benefit, low. The superintendent appoints and may remove the executive assistant and internal auditor with the Atlanta school board’s advice and consent. The superintendent and board jointly set performance goals for both officials. The board has significant input into their annual reviews. The board has direct…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Sonya Halpern (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Sally Harrell (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Jaha Howard (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: RaShaun Kemp (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Josh McLaurin (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Nan Orrock (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Elena Parent (Democrat), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bryce Berry (Democrat), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-02 | House | Supplemental Local Calendar | pass | 94 | 75 | 6 |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 49 | 0 | 4 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2026-05-12: Act 700
- 2026-05-12: Effective Date
- 2026-04-10: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-04-02: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-04-02: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-04-02: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-10: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-03-09: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 601/AP* (v6): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249089)

## 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 601/AP* (v6) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249089)

## 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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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB601-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).