Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 371: Quality Basic Education Act; state's maximum authorization of capital outlay funding; provide for an increase
Last action July 1, 2025 · Effective Date
House Bill 371 raises the state's annual cap on school construction funding from $300 million to $375 million and requires new elementary school playgrounds built after July 2027 to meet accessibility design standards.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia's Quality Basic Education Act sets a maximum amount of state money that can be authorized each year for school building projects, known as capital outlay funding. This bill raises that ceiling from $300 million to $375 million annually, starting with fiscal year 2027 applications, and keeps the existing rule that funding calculations must include at least three levels below the new maximum. The bill also updates the state's common minimum facility requirements for public schools. For any new elementary school built on or after July 1, 2027 that includes a playground, the playground must meet specific accessibility and design standards, including minimum size, shading, fencing, accessible surfacing, and equipment usable by children with physical, sensory, or cognitive differences. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
What the bill does
- Raises the state's maximum annual authorization for school capital outlay funding from $300 million to $375 million, starting with fiscal year 2027 applications.
- Keeps the requirement that funding deliberations with the Governor and General Assembly include calculations for at least three levels below the new maximum.
- Requires playgrounds at new elementary schools built on or after July 1, 2027 to meet detailed accessibility and design standards, including size, shading, and surfacing requirements.
- Requires such playgrounds to include equipment usable by children with a range of physical, sensory, and cognitive abilities, such as accessible swings, ramps, and communication boards.
- Reorganizes and clarifies the state's common minimum facility requirements for public school certification without changing their basic substance.
Who it affects
Local school systems and the State Board of Education, which oversee capital outlay funding and facility standards; school districts planning new elementary schools after July 2027; and students, including students with disabilities, who would use the newly required accessible playgrounds.
Why it matters
The higher funding cap could allow more state money to flow to school construction projects across Georgia in future budget years. The new playground standards mean elementary schools built after mid-2027 must design outdoor play spaces that children with disabilities can use alongside their peers.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-260 to raise the state's maximum capital outlay authorization from $300 million to $375 million annually, effective with fiscal year 2027 applications.
- Section 1 keeps the rule requiring funding calculations at three levels below the new maximum for budget deliberations with the Governor and General Assembly.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-261 to restructure the common minimum facility requirements into a clearer numbered format covering fire safety, sanitation, space standards, and construction quality.
- Section 2 adds new playground design standards for elementary schools built on or after July 1, 2027, requiring at least 10,000 square feet, perimeter fencing, 20 percent shaded area, and 80 percent unitary (impact-absorbing) surfacing.
- Section 2 requires new playgrounds to include accessible equipment such as adaptive swings, wheelchair-accessible ramps and slides, sensory panels, and communication or Braille alphabet panels.
- Section 3 sets the effective date of this Act as July 1, 2025.
- Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“Provides an engaging play space with age and ability-appropriate levels of challenge and offers opportunities for children of all abilities to succeed, regardless of physical and intellectual attributes”
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 85
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
Show full history (16 actions)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- John Corbett (R, HD-174)
- Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
- Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
- Matt Dubnik (R, HD-29)
- Chris Erwin (R, HD-32)
- John F. Kennedy (R, SD-18)
Votes
- House voteMarch 6, 2025
170 yea, 2 nay (1 not voting, 7 excused)
- Senate voteApril 2, 2025
50 yea, 4 nay (2 not voting, 0 excused)
- House voteApril 4, 2025
168 yea, 3 nay (2 not voting, 7 excused)
Topics
- school construction funding
- education funding
- playground accessibility
- Quality Basic Education Act
- school facilities