HB 1363: Education; authorize public schools and postsecondary educational institutions to consider antisemitism in the same manner as discrimination based on religion

Georgia law does not currently spell out a state-level ban on discrimination in schools mirroring federal Title VI protections, or designate a state official to track such complaints. This substitute bill adds new sections to Title 20 of Georgia's education code declaring that no one may be excluded from, denied benefits of, or discriminated against in any public school program, activity, or employment practice based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion. It requires the Department of Education to name a state-wide K-12 Title VI Coordinator by September 29, 2026, to run a complaint process, investigate discrimination reports, and refer unresolved cases to federal civil rights authorities. The Board of Regents and the Technical College System Board must set up similar complaint and investigation procedures for colleges and technical schools by December 31, 2026. Noncompliant schools can have state funding withheld, subject to appeal in superior court. Annual reports go to top state officials, and the law would take effect once the Governor signs it or lets it become law without a signature.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-13) barring discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in Georgia public schools, colleges, and technical schools receiving state or federal money.
• Requires the Department of Education to appoint a state-wide K-12 Title VI Coordinator by September 29, 2026 to handle discrimination and harassment complaints in public K-12 schools.
• Directs the Board of Regents and the Technical College System Board to set up complaint, investigation, and reporting procedures for their institutions by December 31, 2026.
• Allows the state to withhold funding from a public school, college, or technical school found noncompliant, subject to a 30-day correction period and the right to appeal to superior court.
• Requires annual public reports on complaints and enforcement to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, House Speaker, and relevant legislative committees.
• Makes clear the new rules do not override First Amendment rights or federal student privacy protections under FERPA.

Students, teachers, and staff in Georgia's K-12 public schools, the University System of Georgia, and the Technical College System of Georgia; the Department of Education, Board of Regents, and State Board of the Technical College System, which must create new enforcement offices and procedures; and school systems that could lose state funding for noncompliance.

Georgia students and employees who believe they faced discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion would gain a formal state complaint process and a designated official to investigate, with funding cuts as a possible consequence for schools that do not fix violations.

• Section 1 creates O.C.G.A. § 20-1-13, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in public schools, colleges, and technical schools, while preserving First Amendment and Georgia constitutional rights.
• Section 2 creates O.C.G.A. § 20-2-324.10, requiring a state-wide K-12 Title VI Coordinator by September 29, 2026 to run a complaint system, investigate, issue noncompliance notices, and refer unresolved cases to federal civil rights agencies after 30 days.
• Section 2 authorizes the State Board of Education to withhold state funding from noncompliant public schools, with a right to appeal to the local superior court.
• Section 3 creates O.C.G.A. § 20-3-40.1, requiring the Board of Regents to establish complaint and investigation procedures at University System institutions by December 31, 2026, with funding withholding as a possible penalty.
• Section 4 creates O.C.G.A. § 20-4-39.1, imposing similar complaint, investigation, and funding-withholding rules on the Technical College System of Georgia by December 31, 2026.
• Sections 3 and 4 require annual reports by July 1 each year to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, House Speaker, and relevant education committee chairs, and state the new rules do not override federal antidiscrimination or FERPA privacy laws.
• Section 5 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without a signature.

1. 2026-03-03House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-02-20House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-19House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-18House Hopper (House)

• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)
• Esther Panitch (D, HD-051)
• John Carson (R, HD-046)

• school discrimination
• Title VI compliance
• education policy
• antisemitism
• college and university policy