HB 1294: Education; grace period of up to 180 days for transfer students to be evaluated for and receive medical and education services based upon medical forms executed by out-of-state physicians; provide

Currently, Georgia public schools require certain medical forms, such as immunization records, special education evaluations, or plans for conditions like diabetes or seizures, to be signed by a physician licensed in Georgia. This creates delays for students moving from other states whose medical paperwork was completed by an out-of-state doctor. HB1294 adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-779.5) letting Georgia public elementary and secondary schools provisionally accept required medical forms signed by a transferring student's out-of-state physician, as long as the form was signed no more than 180 days before the student enrolled. This grace period covers forms used for immunization history, special education and related services, hospital homebound services, IEPs, Section 504 plans, diabetes management plans, seizure action plans, and school nursing or medication administration. It does not apply to eligibility rules for interscholastic athletics. The State Board of Education and Department of Public Health must adopt rules to carry out the new provision.

• Creates a new 180-day grace period during which Georgia public schools must provisionally accept required medical forms signed by a transferring student's out-of-state physician.
• Limits the grace period to forms signed no more than 180 days before the student's enrollment in a Georgia public school.
• Defines 'required medical form' broadly to include forms for immunizations, special education evaluations, IEPs, Section 504 plans, diabetes and seizure plans, and school nursing services.
• Excludes athletic eligibility rules from the grace period, meaning out-of-state medical forms cannot be used to qualify a student for interscholastic sports.
• Directs the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Health to jointly adopt rules and procedures to implement the grace period.

Students transferring into Georgia public elementary and secondary schools from other states, their parents, school nurses and administrators who process medical forms, out-of-state physicians whose paperwork will now be temporarily accepted, and the State Board of Education and Department of Public Health, which must write implementing rules.

Families moving to Georgia often face delays getting a Georgia-licensed doctor to resign paperwork before a child can access special education services, medication administration, or nursing care at school. This bill would let schools accept the out-of-state doctor's forms temporarily, reducing gaps in services during the transition, except for sports eligibility.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 20-2-779.5, defining 'athletic association,' 'out-of-state physician,' 'required medical form,' and 'transferring student.'
• Subsection (b) grants a grace period of up to 180 days after enrollment during which an out-of-state physician's required medical form is provisionally accepted, so long as it was signed within 180 days before enrollment.
• Subsection (b) also states the grace period does not satisfy any law or rule governing eligibility to participate in interscholastic athletics.
• Subsection (c) requires the State Board of Education and Department of Public Health to establish rules, regulations, and procedures to implement the section.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-18House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-17House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-12House Hopper (House)

• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)Primary sponsor
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)
• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)

• student health records
• school transfers
• special education
• public school policy
• student athletics