HB371: HB371 Quality Basic Education Act; state's maximum authorization of capital outlay funding; provide for an increase

Georgia's Quality Basic Education Act sets a cap on how much the state can authorize each year for school construction and renovation, known as capital outlay funding. This bill raises that cap from $300 million to $375 million annually, starting with fiscal year 2027 applications, with the amount adjusted each year for construction cost changes tracked by the Department of Education. The bill also adds new rules for playgrounds. Any new elementary school built on or after July 1, 2027 that includes a playground must design it to be usable by children of all abilities, with specific requirements such as a minimum size of 10,000 square feet, fencing around the whole area, at least 20 percent shade coverage, mostly soft unitary surfacing, and inclusive equipment like accessible swings, Braille and sign language panels, and wheelchair accessible structures. The law would take effect July 1, 2025.

• Raises the state's maximum annual authorization for school capital outlay funding (construction and renovation money) from $300 million to $375 million, starting with fiscal year 2027.
• Keeps the existing rule that the funding cap is adjusted each year based on construction cost data tracked by the Department of Education.
• Requires the State Board of Education to set common minimum facility requirements that now include specific playground design standards for new elementary schools.
• Requires any playground built at a new elementary school after July 1, 2027 to meet size, fencing, shading, surfacing, and accessible equipment requirements.
• Sets the overall effective date of the Act as July 1, 2025.

Local school systems and school boards seeking state construction funding, the State Board of Education and Department of Education, which administer the funding formula and facility standards, and students, including children with disabilities, who would use new elementary school playgrounds built after July 2027.

More school districts could receive state help paying for construction projects because the funding ceiling rises by $75 million a year. New elementary school playgrounds built after mid-2027 would have to be designed so children with physical, sensory, or communication differences can use them alongside their classmates.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-260 to raise the state's maximum capital outlay authorization from $300 million to $375 million annually, beginning with fiscal year 2027 applications.
• Section 1 keeps the requirement that state and legislative funding deliberations consider at least three funding levels below the new $375 million maximum.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-261 to add a new paragraph (3) requiring playgrounds at new elementary schools built on or after July 1, 2027 to meet detailed accessibility and design standards.
• Section 2 lists minimum guidelines including a 10,000 square foot minimum size, perimeter fencing, at least 20 percent shaded area, and unitary (soft) surfacing covering at least 80 percent of the playground.
• Section 2 requires inclusive play equipment such as communication boards, ASL and Braille panels, adaptive swings, and wheelchair accessible slides and structures.
• Section 3 sets the Act's effective date as July 1, 2025.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-09Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-09Act 85
3. 2025-05-09House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-09House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-04House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-04-02Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• John Corbett (R, HD-174)Primary sponsor
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2025

   170 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #261

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   50 yea, 4 nay (2 not voting, 0 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #396

3. PassedHouse voteApril 4, 2025

   168 yea, 3 nay (2 not voting, 7 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #422

• school construction funding
• Quality Basic Education Act
• playground accessibility
• education funding
• disability access