HB 1193: Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026; enact

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Discussed in meetings (15)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. House Education Committee, February 12, 2026

   From 0:18:44 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute providing literacy coaches in schools serving kindergarten through third grade, regional support, reading-science training, instructional materials, reading assessments, district literacy plans and reviews of teacher preparation programs. The sponsor said changes since subcommittee added advisory connections with existing literacy bodies. Another presenter said only 37% of students read on grade level and urged funding in the upcoming budget. Members questioned attendance ages, retention, agency authority, older struggling readers, parent notices, staffing and costs. The sponsor and legislative counsel said compulsory attendance would remain at six and the two-year kindergarten limit already exists. Counsel said promotion review committees must agree unanimously to promote, otherwise retention remains the default. The sponsor said district plans would address older readers and defended mailed notices as documented communication without barring other methods. Presenters said coaches must focus on literacy, spend 70% of their time in classrooms and not perform substitute or administrative duties. The sponsor said roughly 1,300 coaches would be needed despite more than 5,000 existing certified vacancies. A second presenter said costs were still being developed. The sponsor said state agencies would choose from expert-recommended materials and assessments. Members also raised poverty-based funding, existing contracts and frequent assessment changes. The committee approved the substitute unanimously.

2. House Rules Committee, February 17, 2026

   From 0:57:41 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would place qualified literacy coaches in public schools serving kindergarten through third grade, prioritize high-quality instructional materials and require school systems to adopt unified literacy plans. The sponsor also said it would encourage parents to enroll children in kindergarten by age five. No questions or decision followed.

3. House Rules Committee, February 23, 2026

   From 1:32:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1119

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 1193 on the next day's House calendar without opposition. There was no substantive discussion.

4. House floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23)

   From 1:32:45 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 1123

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1193 would strengthen kindergarten-through-third-grade reading through state-funded school literacy coaches, regional support, free teacher training, approved instructional materials, local literacy plans and a state literacy task force. The sponsor said roughly two-thirds of students were not reading on grade level and estimated about 1,300 school coaching positions. Asked about promotion and retention, the sponsor said parents, teachers and school leaders would decide unanimously. Asked about dyslexia and older struggling readers, the sponsor said the bill enhanced dyslexia work but focused on early grades, with older students requiring later efforts. A member questioned whether rural districts would face unfunded costs and whether funding accounted for poverty. The sponsor said the state would fund coaches and materials, existing administrators could supervise coaches, and poverty-based funding was being piloted separately. Another member raised early learning about race; the sponsor said they were unfamiliar with the cited research. Four supporting speakers emphasized family access to reading, teacher preparation, workforce readiness and the risks of failing to act. The House adopted the committee substitute without objection and passed the bill 170 to 2.

5. Senate floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34)

   From 2:10:10 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Withdrawn & Recommitted)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A senator requested moving the bill from Education and Youth to Appropriations. The clerk described statewide literacy measures, including funding for literacy coaches in public schools serving kindergarten through third grade, duties for the Georgia Council on Literacy and required kindergarten attendance before first grade. The Senate approved the transfer without objection.

6. Senate Appropriations Committee, March 25, 2026

   From 0:21:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair presented a substitute focused on classroom literacy support, saying only 29 percent of Georgia third graders read on grade level. The chair said it would provide a literacy coach at every school serving kindergarten through third grade, using state grants outside the main school funding formula so districts would not owe a local share. The chair described funding more than $70 million for 1,313 coaches, with duties focused on literacy rather than administration or unrelated teaching. The chair said the substitute would coordinate state agencies' selection of instructional materials, screening tools and training, require state-approved materials for state-funded purchases beginning in 2030, and retain first-grade screening and parent notification provisions. The chair said it would end the Georgia Council on Literacy on December 31, 2026, transfer responsibilities to the Governor's Office of Student Achievement and avoid new committees. No substantive questions or opposition were recorded. The committee approved the substitute unanimously. During the budget presentation, the chair reiterated full state funding for the coaches and described $5.5 million moved to the university system for literacy research, coordination and coach preparation, expected at Georgia Southern University.

7. Senate Rules Committee, March 30, 2026

   From 1:21:06 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A member selected HB 1193, referring to it as the House speaker's measure and noting a desire to advance the member's own bills in the House. No provisions were explained. The committee unanimously approved the calendar containing it.

8. Senate floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 1)

   From 3:32:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1193 would fund literacy coaches in schools serving kindergarten through third grade, emphasize phonics and reading research, revise screening and promotion policies, and require full-day kindergarten. The sponsor said the Senate budget included over $70 million for 1,313 coaches, using grants to avoid a 20% local funding share. A lengthy floor amendment restored a literacy task force, retained a state literacy director and ended the existing literacy council. One senator asked about coordination across agencies; the sponsor described the director as a coordinator. Another asked about assessments and the risk of retaining more first graders; the sponsor said the bill did not require computer testing and called for annual reports. After initially giving conflicting explanations about school attendance ages, senators clarified that the age language concerned program funding, not compulsory attendance. An amendment addressing that concern was withdrawn. Several senators supported the bill as a way to improve educational and later-life outcomes. A procedural objection prompted a recess, followed by unanimous permission to consider the lengthy amendment immediately. The Senate adopted the amendment and substitute, then passed the bill 49-0.

9. House floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 2)

   From 4:53:02 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter asked the House to agree to the Senate substitute for the early literacy measure. The presenter said the Senate made two changes: moving program funding from the school funding allotment sheet to a grants program and setting the literacy council's expiration for December 2026. The presenter said the goal was reading on grade level by third grade and argued that stronger literacy would improve students' lives and later outcomes. The presenter credited extensive committee work and visits to other states, and said the Senate approved the measure 49 to 0. The chair praised the bipartisan effort and called this a first major step toward improving literacy. No questions were asked. The House agreed to the Senate substitute, 168 to 0, followed by recognition of participants and a photograph.

10. House Rural Development Committee, June 11, 2026

    From 1:37:41 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

    Summary by Georgia Commons: A literacy advocate and former elementary school principal presented HB 1193 as a response to rural education gaps. The advocate said it establishes a state literacy director and expert task force, strengthens reading-curriculum selection, continues kindergarten-through-third-grade screening, and provides regional and school-based literacy coaches. The advocate urged schools to hire highly qualified coaches and said teacher preparation and dyslexia remain priorities. The advocate said compulsory attendance remains at age six, while readiness assessments and earlier intervention could help children before third grade. The advocate said a related $2.7 million proposal for school vision and hearing screening equipment lost budget funding, but supporters would continue pursuing it. The advocate also urged community partnerships to help families develop children's language skills before school. Asked whether education leaders knew about the changes, the House speaker said a presentation had been made to the State Board of Education. The advocate recommended approaching local superintendents to organize early-learning efforts. Another member requested talking points. One member criticized state education leadership and federal programs; the speaker agreed leadership needed attention. The chair supported the literacy effort. No amendment or vote occurred.

• Read aloud: House floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13), 0:42:04
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 6, 2026 (legislative day 14), 0:52:04
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 12, 2026 (legislative day 18), 0:58:21
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24), 0:32:13
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 25, 2026 (legislative day 37), 0:31:54

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