HB 1099: Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act; enact

Currently Georgia law does not specifically require an evaluation of whether a blind or visually impaired student needs Braille instruction as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP), the special education plan required under federal law. This bill, called the 'Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act,' adds a new Code section requiring that evaluation, conducted by a teacher with a special education visual impairment endorsement, and spells out what the IEP must include: how Braille will be taught, when it starts, how long sessions last, and how competency will be measured. If a student's IEP team decides Braille is not appropriate, the team must document its reasoning based on a review of relevant literature and evidence that the student can read and write effectively without it. The bill also bars local school boards from buying textbooks or instructional materials unless an electronic version exists that can be converted into Braille or synthesized speech. Starting July 1, 2026, the Professional Standards Commission could not issue or renew a visual impairment teaching endorsement unless the educator completes Braille coursework, holds a national Braille certificate, or passes a Braille test.

• Requires an evaluation of a blind or visually impaired student's reading and writing needs to determine whether Braille instruction should be part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• Specifies that the evaluation must be conducted by a teacher holding a special education visual impairment endorsement from the Professional Standards Commission.
• Requires that when Braille instruction is included in an IEP, the plan detail implementation timing, session length and frequency, and competency benchmarks.
• Requires documentation and evidence if an IEP team decides not to include Braille instruction for a student.
• Bars local school boards from purchasing textbooks or instructional materials unless an electronic version exists that can be converted into Braille or synthesized speech.
• Requires teachers seeking or renewing a visual impairment endorsement after July 1, 2026 to complete Braille coursework, hold a Braille certificate, or pass a Braille test.

Blind and visually impaired public school students in Georgia, their IEP teams and teachers, local school boards responsible for purchasing textbooks and instructional materials, textbook publishers, and teachers seeking or renewing a special education visual impairment endorsement through the Professional Standards Commission.

Families of blind or visually impaired students would gain a formal process ensuring Braille needs are assessed and documented rather than left unaddressed. School districts would face new textbook purchasing requirements, and teachers pursuing visual impairment endorsements would need demonstrated Braille competency starting in 2026.

• Adds new Code Section 20-2-152.3, defining 'blind or visually impaired student' using visual acuity, field of vision, or expected deterioration thresholds tied to eligibility for special education services.
• Defines 'Braille' to include standard English Braille, Unified English Braille Code, and the Nemeth Code for math and science notation.
• Subsection (d) requires an evaluation before an IEP team can decide against Braille instruction, and the evaluation must be done by a teacher with a visual impairment endorsement.
• Subsection (e) lists required IEP components when Braille instruction is included, such as implementation timeline, session frequency, and competency assessment measures.
• Subsection (e)(6) requires documented justification, including a literature review and supporting evidence, if a team decides Braille instruction is not needed.
• Subsection (f) prohibits local school boards from purchasing textbooks or instructional materials lacking an electronic version convertible into Braille or synthesized speech.
• Subsection (g) requires, starting July 1, 2026, that the Professional Standards Commission only issue or renew visual impairment endorsements to educators who complete Braille training, hold a national certificate, or pass a Braille test.

1. 2026-02-03House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-02House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-29House Hopper (House)

• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)Primary sponsor
• Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)
• Karlton Howard (D, HD-129)
• Segun Adeyina (D, HD-110)
• Robert Dawson (D, HD-065)

• special education
• Braille literacy
• blind and visually impaired students
• teacher licensing
• textbook requirements