HB 1239: Student Civic Participation and Encouragement Act; enact

Currently Georgia law does not guarantee students an excused absence for attending civic or political activities like protests or town halls. This bill, called the Student Civic Participation and Encouragement Act, would add a new section to Georgia's compulsory attendance law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-692.5) requiring every local school system and public school to adopt a policy granting students at least two excused absences per school year for attending or taking part in a 'civic or political event.' That term is defined broadly to include strikes, public comment sessions, candidate speeches, political or civil forums, town halls, protests, or similar events. Parents or guardians (or students who are 18 or emancipated) would have to notify the school at least one school day before the absence, and schools would need to document these excused absences. The State Board of Education would develop a model policy schools can use. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

• Adds a new Georgia code section requiring local school systems and public schools to excuse at least two student absences per year for civic or political events.
• Defines 'civic or political event' broadly to include strikes, public comment, candidate speeches, forums, town halls, and protests.
• Requires advance notice from a parent, guardian, or eligible student at least one school day before the absence.
• Requires schools to document these excused absences under the new policy.
• Directs the State Board of Education to create a model policy for local school systems to use.
• Sets the law to take effect July 1, 2026, starting with the 2026-2027 school year.

K-12 public school students and their parents or guardians, local school boards and school administrators who must write and enforce the new attendance policy, and the State Board of Education, which must draft a model policy for districts to follow.

Students who want to attend a protest, town hall, or candidate event would have a guaranteed excused absence rather than facing potential truancy consequences, as long as they give a day's notice. School staff would need new procedures to track and document these absences.

• Section 1 gives the bill its short title, the 'Student Civic Participation and Encouragement Act.'
• Section 2 adds new Code section 20-2-692.5, defining 'civic or political event' and requiring schools to grant at least two excused absences per year for such events.
• Section 2 requires notice at least one school day before the absence from a parent, guardian, or student 18 or older or emancipated.
• Section 2 directs the State Board of Education to develop a model policy for local systems to adopt.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying starting with the 2026-2027 school year.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-10House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-09House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-06House Hopper (House)

• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)Primary sponsor
• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)
• Akbar Ali (D, HD-106)
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)

• student attendance policy
• civic engagement
• protests and free speech
• school policy
• K-12 education