Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia SB589: "Quality Basic Education Act"; the date by which a child must attain a certain age to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten or first grade; revise
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to revise the date by which a child must attain a certain age to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten or first grade; to provide for parents and guardians to elect for their children who have attained the age of four or five to be enrolled in a voluntary pre-kindergarten program provided and operated as part of Georgia's Pre-K Program; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Code Section 20-2-150 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to eligibility for enrollment, program assignments for students, and student social security numbers, so as to provide for parents and guardians to elect for their children who have attained the age of four or five to be enrolled in a voluntary pre-kindergarten program provided and operated as part of Georgia's Pre-K Program…
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Code Section 20-2-150 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to eligibility for enrollment, program assignments for students, and student social security numbers, so as to provide for parents and guardians to elect for their children who have attained the age of four or five to be enrolled in a voluntary pre-kindergarten program provided and operated as part of Georgia's Pre-K Program; to provide for parents and guardians of students who are eligible for initial public school enrollment in first grade to elect for their children to be enrolled in kindergarten rather than first grade; to amend Part of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to enact the "You Are Not Alone Awareness Act"; to require public schools that issue student identification badges to include certain information about the 9-8-8 crisis response hotline on such badges; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: S. B. LC 49 2856S SECTION 1. Code Section 20-2-150 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to eligibility for enrollment, program assignments for students, …
Sponsors
- Scott Hilton (R, 48) · primary sponsor
- Matt Brass (R, 6) · primary sponsor
- Billy Hickman (R, 4)
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, 31)
- McNeel, Steven (R, 18)
- John Albers (R)
- Mike Hodges (R, 3)
- Randy Robertson (R, 29)
- Clint Dixon (R, 45)
- Kim Jackson (D, 41)
Latest actions
- : Effective Date
- : Act 633
- : Senate Date Signed by Governor
- : Senate Sent to Governor
- : Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub
- : House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- : House Third Readers
- : House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- : House Second Readers
- : House First Readers
Votes
- Senate Vote #925 (March 31, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Vote #788 (March 27, 2026): 156 yea, 3 nay, passed
- Senate Vote #657 (March 6, 2026): 54 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB589?
- SB589 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): "Quality Basic Education Act"; the date by which a child must attain a certain age to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten or first grade; revise.
- What does SB589 do?
- In its own words: To amend Code Section 20-2-150 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to eligibility for enrollment, program assignments for students, and student social security numbers, so as to provide for parents and guardians to elect for their children who have attained the age of four or five to be enrolled in a voluntary pre-kindergarten program provided and operated as part of Georgia's Pre-K Program…
- What is the status of SB589?
- Signed into law as of May 12, 2026. Latest action: Effective Date (July 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB589?
- Scott Hilton (R, 48), with 10 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB589?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73650
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.