HR145: HR145 Education and Public Health, Departments of; collaborate to prioritize the expansion of vision and hearing screenings at various grade levels; urge

This resolution does not change Georgia law but expresses the House of Representatives' position on student vision and hearing screening. It notes that about one-third of school age children have vision problems and 8 percent of children ages six to 19 have hearing loss, and that current law only requires hearing screening at newborn hospital discharge and school entry, with vision screening required only at school entry. The resolution urges the Department of Education and the Department of Public Health to collaborate on a comprehensive strategy to expand vision and hearing screenings for students in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades one, three, five, and eight, as well as for transfer students at any grade level. It also asks that the resulting strategy be presented to House and Senate education committee leaders and the Georgia Council on Literacy, and directs the House Clerk to send copies to both departments.

• Urges the Department of Education and Department of Public Health to jointly develop a strategy to expand vision and hearing screenings beyond current requirements.
• Names specific grade levels for expanded screening: pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades one, three, five, and eight, plus transfer students at any grade.
• Requests that the finished strategy be presented to the House Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, and the Georgia Council on Literacy.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to both departments.
• Does not create any new legal requirement, funding, or penalty; it is a statement of the House's position.

Public school students, especially those in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and transfer students, along with the Department of Education, the Department of Public Health, and the legislative education committees that would receive the resulting strategy.

If the departments act on this request, more students could be screened for vision and hearing problems earlier, potentially catching issues that interfere with learning to read. Because it is a resolution, no screening expansion or funding is legally required to follow.

• Cites O.C.G.A. § 20-2-771 as existing authority requiring the Department of Education to work with public health authorities on student health mandates.
• Resolves that the Department of Education and Department of Public Health are urged to jointly develop a strategy to expand screenings at listed grade levels and for transfer students.
• Requires that any resulting strategy be presented to the House Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, and the Georgia Council on Literacy.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to representatives of both departments.

1. 2026-03-12House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-03-12House Third Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-09House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
4. 2026-02-12House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
5. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
6. 2025-02-28House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
7. 2025-02-06House Second Readers (House)
8. 2025-02-05House First Readers (House)

• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)Primary sponsor
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)
• Will Wade (R, HD-009)
• Matt Barton (R, HD-005)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 12, 2026

   162 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 8 absent)

   Adopt: House Vote #699

• student health screenings
• vision and hearing screening
• literacy
• public schools
• Department of Public Health