SB150: SB150 Retirement; permit public school systems to employ certain beneficiaries of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia as classroom teachers; extend the program

Since 2022, Georgia law has let public school systems bring back certain retired teachers, those with 30 years of creditable service in the Teachers Retirement System, to teach full time in subject areas identified as having the greatest shortage of teachers ('areas of highest need'). That program was set to expire in 2026. This bill extends it through June 30, 2030. The bill also adds a new path: retired teachers can be rehired to teach math, special education, science, career and technical education (CTAE), reading, writing, or English language arts without their subject needing to be officially designated as high-need, as long as those teaching reading, writing, or English hold a dyslexia or reading endorsement. It also switches who determines 'areas of highest need' from the regional education agency (RESA) to each individual public school system, and it bars firing or not renewing a rehired retiree just because a school system's high-need list changes later. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, but only if the state confirms the program is properly funded under Georgia's Public Retirement Systems Standards Law; otherwise the whole Act is automatically repealed.

• Extends the program allowing public school systems to rehire retired teachers with 30 years of service as full-time classroom teachers from 2026 through June 30, 2030.
• Creates a new hiring category letting school systems rehire retirees to teach math, special education, science, CTAE, or reading/writing/English language arts without that subject needing a formal 'highest need' designation.
• Requires retirees teaching reading, writing, or English language arts under the new category to hold a current dyslexia or reading endorsement from the Professional Standards Commission.
• Changes who determines 'areas of highest need' from the regional education service agency (RESA) to each individual public school system.
• Prohibits terminating, not renewing, or forcing resignation of a rehired retiree solely because a school system's list of high-need subjects later changes.
• Pushes back the deadline for the state auditor's required performance audit of the program from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2029.

Retired Georgia public school teachers with 30 years of service who want to return to the classroom, the public school systems that hire them, the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, the Department of Education, and the Professional Standards Commission, which helps set high-need designations and endorsement rules.

School systems facing teacher shortages, especially in math, science, special education, CTAE, and reading, gain a wider pool of experienced retired teachers they can rehire without waiting for a formal shortage designation, while retirees who take these jobs get added job security if a school's needs later shift.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 47-3-127.1 to extend the rehire-of-retirees program from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2030.
• Adds a new subsection (a)(2) allowing rehire of retirees to teach math, special education, science, CTAE, or reading/writing/English language arts, with an endorsement requirement for the language-related subjects.
• Moves 'areas of highest need' determination from the RESA level to each individual public school system, still set annually by the Department of Education with the Professional Standards Commission.
• Adds subsection (e) barring termination, resignation, or nonrenewal of a rehired retiree due to a later change in the school system's high-need list.
• Moves the state auditor's required performance audit deadline from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2029.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective July 1, 2026 only if funding is certified under the 'Public Retirement Systems Standards Law' (O.C.G.A. Title 47, Chapter 20); otherwise the Act is automatically repealed on that date.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 399
3. 2026-05-05Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-31Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-27House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-27House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)Primary sponsor
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 9, 2026

   48 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #529

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2026

   159 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 10 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #775

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #916

• teacher retirement
• teacher shortages
• public school staffing
• education policy