---
title: HB 1249. Education; require public elementary and secondary schools to display the Bill of Rights in multiple locations
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1249
cite_as: HB 1249, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1249
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1249.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1249/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73016
date: 2026-02-11
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1249.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1249
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-09
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Mary Ann Santos
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1249/2025
upstream_id: 2112320
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- public schools
- Bill of Rights
- education policy
- school displays
- civics education
---
# HB 1249. Education; require public elementary and secondary schools to display the Bill of Rights in multiple locations
## Text
House Bill 1249
By: Representative Santos of the 117th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 19A of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to American history recognition and significant documents, so as to require public
elementary and secondary schools in this state to display the Bill of Rights in multiple
locations; to provide for specifications for such displays; to provide for rules and regulations;
to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and
for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 19A of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
American history recognition and significant documents, is amended by revising Code
Section 20-2-1021, relating to display of historically significant documents, as follows:
"20-2-1021.
(a) To increase student understanding of, and familiarity with, American historical
documents, public schools may display historically important excerpts from, or copies of,
those documents in school classrooms and common areas as appropriate. Local boards of
education and charter schools are strongly encouraged to allow and may encourage any
public school teacher or administrator to read or post in a public school building,
classroom, or event excerpts or portions of writings, documents, records, or images that
reflect the history of the United States, including, but not limited to:
(1) The Preamble to the Georgia Constitution;
(2) The Declaration of Independence;
(3) The United States Constitution, with emphasis on the 13th, 14th, and 15th Thirteenth,
Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments;
(4) The Bill of Rights;
(5) The Mayflower Compact;
(6) The national motto;
(7) The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag;
(7.1) The Pledge of Allegiance to the Georgia flag;
(8) The National Anthem;
(9) The writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations of the Founding Fathers and
Presidents of the United States;
(9.1) The Emancipation Proclamation;
(9.2) The Gettysburg Address;
(10) Decisions of the United States Supreme Court; and
(11) Acts of the Congress of the United States, including the published text of the
Congressional Record.
(b)(1) No later than January 1, 2027, each public elementary and secondary school in this
state shall display in each of the three locations provided for in paragraph (2) of this
subsection a durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights in accordance with the
requirements of paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(2) A durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights, as required in paragraph (1)
of this subsection, shall be displayed in a manner and location in which it can easily be
read by both students and adults in locations within each school facility fitting the
following descriptions:
(A) The main entrance of the main building;
(B) The main entrance of the school library or media center; and
(C) The main entrance of the cafeteria.
(3) Each durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights as required in paragraph (1)
of this subsection shall:
(A) Measure at least 18 inches in width and 24 inches in height; and
(B) Contain only the following text, in the following order:
(i) A centered heading entitled 'The Bill of Rights' set out in a font size larger than
any other text set out on such durable poster or framed copy; and
(ii) The text of the First through Tenth Amendments of the United States
Constitution, including a subheading indicating the respective amendment, in a font
size and typeface legible to a person with average vision from within the locations
listed in paragraph (2) of this subsection in which the durable poster or framed copy
is displayed.
(4)(A) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any public school, local
school system, or local board of education to spend public funds to purchase any
durable posters or framed copies of the Bill of Rights in order to comply with the
requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(B) Each public school, local school system, or local board of education shall accept:
(i) Funds donated for the purchase of durable posters or framed copies of the Bill of
Rights, as required in paragraph (1) of this subsection; and
(ii) Any offer of a privately donated durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of
Rights; provided, however, that such durable poster or framed copy meets the
requirements set forth in paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to
implement the requirements of this subsection.
(6) The Department of Education shall publish on its website information that identifies
free resources that comply with the provisions of this subsection.
(b)(c) As historical documents, there shall be no content based censorship of American
history and heritage documents referred to in this Code section due to their religious or
cultural nature."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would require every public elementary and secondary school to display a poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights at three specific locations by January 1, 2027.
### Plain-language summary
Current Georgia law lets, but does not require, public schools to display historically significant documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. This bill amends that law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1021) to make display of the Bill of Rights mandatory rather than optional.
Each public elementary and secondary school would have to post a durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights at the main entrance of the main building, the main entrance of the school library or media center, and the main entrance of the cafeteria, by January 1, 2027. The display must be at least 18 by 24 inches, carry a centered heading reading 'The Bill of Rights,' and include the text of the First through Tenth Amendments in legible type. Schools are not required to spend public money on the displays but must accept donated funds or donated copies that meet the size and content rules. The State Board of Education must write implementing rules, and the Department of Education must post a list of free compliant resources online. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
### What it does
- Requires every Georgia public elementary and secondary school to display a poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights in three specific locations by January 1, 2027.
- Sets minimum size (18 by 24 inches) and content requirements for the display, including a required heading and the text of the first ten constitutional amendments.
- Bars schools from being forced to spend public funds on the displays but requires them to accept donated money or donated copies that meet the size and content rules.
- Directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the new display requirement.
- Directs the Department of Education to publish online a list of free resources schools can use to comply.
- Updates references to the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to spell them out as Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth in the existing list of historical documents schools may display.
### Who it affects
Public elementary and secondary schools across Georgia, local school systems and boards of education, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Education. Students and school staff would see the new Bill of Rights displays in main buildings, libraries, and cafeterias.
### Why it matters
Schools that currently have no Bill of Rights posted would need to add one in three locations by a set deadline, though the bill shields districts from an unfunded spending mandate by requiring them to accept donations instead. Families and staff would see the same required text and layout in every public school building.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1021 to make display of the Bill of Rights mandatory, whereas display of other historical documents (Declaration of Independence, Mayflower Compact, etc.) remains optional.
- New subsection (b)(1)-(2) sets a January 1, 2027 deadline and requires displays at the main entrance of the main building, the library or media center, and the cafeteria.
- New subsection (b)(3) requires the poster or framed copy to be at least 18 inches by 24 inches, with a centered 'The Bill of Rights' heading and the text of the First through Tenth Amendments.
- New subsection (b)(4) says schools cannot be required to spend public funds on the displays but must accept donated funds or donated copies meeting the requirements.
- New subsection (b)(5) directs the State Board of Education to adopt implementing rules and regulations.
- New subsection (b)(6) directs the Department of Education to publish free compliant resources on its website.
- Section 2 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-09)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-11)
- Sponsors: Mary Ann Santos
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73016
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1249.md?full=1