HB 198: Education; use of school facilities by certain youth groups; provide

Georgia law currently has an unused, reserved section in the state education code (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-12). This bill fills that section with new rules about youth groups using school buildings. The bill defines a 'patriotic society' as a youth group listed in federal law (Title 36 of the United States Code) as a patriotic society, naming the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America and their Georgia affiliates as examples. Any local school system that uses state funds for its programs would be barred from prohibiting such groups from using its facilities. If a school system does deny access, the principal of the specific school where the facility is located must give the requesting group written reasons for the denial. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a separate effective date.

• Fills in a previously reserved section of Georgia's education code (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-12) with new rules on school facility access.
• Defines 'patriotic society' as a youth group listed under federal law (Title 36 of the U.S. Code), naming Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA and their Georgia affiliates as examples.
• Bars local school systems that use state funds for chapter 2 programs from prohibiting patriotic societies from using their facilities.
• Requires a school principal to provide written reasons if a patriotic society is denied access to that school's facilities.
• Repeals any state laws that conflict with these new requirements.

Local school systems and school principals across Georgia that use state funding for education programs, and patriotic youth groups such as Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA affiliates that seek to use school facilities for civic education activities.

Youth groups like Scouts troops that want to meet or hold activities in school buildings would gain a stronger legal footing to request access, and schools that say no would have to put their reasoning in writing, creating a paper trail where none existed before.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-12, previously reserved, defining 'patriotic society' by reference to Title 36 of the United States Code and naming Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts affiliates as examples.
• Section 1 prohibits local school systems that use state funds for chapter 2 programs from denying patriotic societies use of their facilities.
• Section 1 requires the principal of the school where a facility is located to provide written reasons if access is denied.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard clause that does not itself create new rules.

1. 2025-02-27House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-02-04House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-03House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-01-30House Hopper (House)

• Johnny Chastain (R, HD-007)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
• Brad Thomas (R, HD-021)

• school facilities
• youth groups
• Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
• civic education
• local school systems