HB 1284: Education; awarding of high school diplomas to high school students who are at the end of life; provide

Currently there is no specific state process for fast-tracking a diploma for a dying high school student. This bill, called the "Gakobe Milton Act," adds a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-70.1) requiring local boards of education to issue a diploma to a student who has a medical diagnosis of a terminal condition and is receiving end-of-life care. A parent or guardian must submit a written request to the local school superintendent, along with documentation from the student's medical provider confirming the end-of-life status. Within 14 calendar days, the local board must ask the State Board of Education to waive the usual graduation credit requirements. Once that waiver is approved, the diploma must be awarded, either while the student is alive or, if necessary, after the student has died. The State Board of Education must adopt rules to make sure this happens quickly.

• Creates a new legal requirement (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-70.1) that local boards of education issue diplomas to terminally ill students in end-of-life care.
• Requires a parent or guardian to submit a written request with medical documentation of the student's end-of-life status to the local superintendent.
• Sets a 14 calendar day deadline for the local board to petition the State Board of Education for a waiver of graduation credit requirements.
• Allows diplomas to be awarded posthumously if the student dies before the waiver process finishes.
• Directs the State Board of Education to create policies, rules, or regulations to ensure schools comply promptly.

Terminally ill high school students and their families, local school superintendents and boards of education, and the State Board of Education, which must process waiver requests and set statewide compliance rules.

Families of dying students would gain a defined, fast path to secure a diploma without waiting for normal graduation requirements to be met, and schools would be legally required to act within a set timeframe rather than handling such requests case by case.

• Section 1 names the law the "Gakobe Milton Act."
• Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 20-2-70.1, requiring local boards to issue diplomas to students with a terminal diagnosis who are in end-of-life care.
• Section 2 requires a written parental request with medical documentation and sets a 14 day deadline for the local board to seek a State Board of Education waiver of graduation credit requirements.
• Section 2 allows diplomas to be awarded posthumously if the student dies before the process is complete.
• Section 2 directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules ensuring prompt compliance.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 397
3. 2026-05-05House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-27Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-27Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
8. 2026-03-27Senate Tabled (Senate)

• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)Primary sponsor
• Jon Burns (R, HD-159)
• Butch Parrish (R, HD-158)
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

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

   Passage: House Vote #606

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   26 yea, 22 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #835

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #854

• high school diplomas
• terminally ill students
• education policy
• local school boards