--- title: HB 371. Quality Basic Education Act; state's maximum authorization of capital outlay funding; provide for an increase collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb371 cite_as: HB 371, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb371 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb371.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb371/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70133 date: 2025-05-09 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb370.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb372.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 1199 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb371.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 371 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-05-09 last_action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 sponsors: - John Corbett - Rick Townsend - Gerald Greene - Matt Dubnik - Chris Erwin - John Kennedy text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB371/2025 upstream_id: 1964638 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - school construction funding - Quality Basic Education Act - playground accessibility - education funding - disability access --- # HB 371. Quality Basic Education Act; state's maximum authorization of capital outlay funding; provide for an increase ## Text 25 HB 371/AP House Bill 371 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Corbett of the 174th, Townsend of the 179th, Greene of the 154th, Dubnik of the 29th, and Erwin of the 32nd A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 10 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O fficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to capital outlay funds under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as2 to provide for an increase of the state's maximum authorization of capital outlay funding3 from $300 million to $375 million annually; to require that for each new elementary school4 constructed on or after July 1, 2027, which includes a playgrou nd, such playground shall5 meet certain standards; to provide for an effective date; to pr ovide for related matters; to6 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Part 10 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official C ode of Georgia Annotated,10 relating to capital outlay funds under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended in Code11 Section 20-2-260, relating to capital outlay funds generally, b y revising paragraph (1) of12 subsection (g) as follows:13 "(g)(1) In order to determine a reasonable total funding level for the purposes stated in14 subsection (e) of this Code section and to establish a fair and equitable distribution of15 funds to local school systems, the State Board of Education sha ll annually determine a16 H. B. 371 - 1 - 25 HB 371/AP level of authorization. Starting with fiscal year 2014 2027 applications for funds and for17 each fiscal year thereafter, the new authorization level may eq ual zero but shall not18 exceed $300 $375 million, adjusted annually to reflect the changes in the current annual19 construction cost data maintained by the Department of Education pursuant to paragraph20 (4) of subsection (c) of this Code section. For purposes of de liberations with the21 Governor and the General Assembly regarding the amount of state funds to be22 appropriated, calculations shall be made for at least three lev els below the $300 $37523 million maximum authorization, adjusted as specified in this paragraph."24 SECTION 2.25 Said part is further amended in Code Section 20-2-261, relating to common minimum facility26 requirements, by revising subsection (a) as follows:27 "(a) The State Board of Education shall establish common minimum facility requirements28 which each public school facility must shall meet in order to be certified for use in any29 component of the educational or recreational program of that such school. Such minimum30 requirements shall:31 (1) Include such include those provisions of law or state board policy on matters that32 relate to:33 (A) Fire fire and physical safety;34 (B) Sanitation sanitation and health, including temperature and ventilation;35 (C) Minimum minimum space, size, and configuration for the various components of36 the instructional program; and37 (D) Construction construction stability, quality, and suitability for intended uses;. Such38 minimum requirements shall not39 (2) Not prohibit wood construction that is otherwise in compliance with state minimum40 standard codes as they existed on January 1, 2014. As used in this subsection, the term41 H. B. 371 - 2 - 25 HB 371/AP 'state minimum standard codes' shall have the same meaning as in paragraph (9) of Code42 Section 8-2-20; and43 (3) Provide that for each new elementary school constructed on or after July 1, 2027,44 which includes a playground, such playground shall meet the following design standards:45 (A) Provides a sensory-diverse environment that enables childr en of all abilities to46 develop physically, socially, and emotionally;47 (B) Provides an engaging play space with age and ability-appro priate levels of48 challenge and offers opportunities for children of all abilities to succeed, regardless of49 physical and intellectual attributes;50 (C) Enables all students to benefit from state mandated recess time for elementary51 students;52 (D) Capable for use as an outdoor classroom that is open to all students; and53 (E) Meets the following minimum guidelines:54 (i) Playground is accessible via a sidewalk or pathway from the school;55 (ii) Playground is a minimum of 10,000 square feet in area;56 (iii) Fencing surrounds and encloses the entire playground area;57 (iv) A minimum of 20 percent of the total playground area shall be shaded; provided,58 however, that such shaded area may comprise more than one area so long as the total59 shaded area meets or exceeds 20 percent of the total playground area; and, provided,60 further, that such shading may be provided by natural means, such as existing mature61 trees, or man-made means, such as sun canopies;62 (v) Unitary surfacing shall be used throughout at least 80 percent of the playground63 area. Examples of unitary surfacing include, but are not limit ed to, turf, bonded64 rubber, and poured in place rubber; and65 (vi) Multiple components that are installed on a portion of the playground with the66 unitary surfacing and are accessible for all users that address the physical, sensory,67 H. B. 371 - 3 - 25 HB 371/AP cognitive, social, emotional, imaginative, and communication needs of those who will68 visit the playground, such as:69 (I) Communication boards;70 (II) Learning American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet panels;71 (III) Learning Braille alphabet panels;72 (IV) Roller slides;73 (V) Pieces of equipment that make music, such as chimes, drums, and bells;74 (VI) Adaptive or accessible swings;75 (VII) Play pieces that are accessible to a child remaining in a wheelchair that allows76 such child to play with other children;77 (VIII) Sensory panels;78 (IX) Wheelchair accessible raised structures; and79 (X) Wheelchair accessible slides."80 SECTION 3.81 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025.82 SECTION 4.83 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.84 H. B. 371 - 4 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. House Bill 371 would raise the state's annual cap on school construction funding from $300 million to $375 million and require new elementary school playgrounds built after July 2027 to meet accessibility and design standards. ### Plain-language summary Georgia's Quality Basic Education Act sets a cap on how much the state can authorize each year for school construction and renovation, known as capital outlay funding. This bill raises that cap from $300 million to $375 million annually, starting with fiscal year 2027 applications, with the amount adjusted each year for construction cost changes tracked by the Department of Education. The bill also adds new rules for playgrounds. Any new elementary school built on or after July 1, 2027 that includes a playground must design it to be usable by children of all abilities, with specific requirements such as a minimum size of 10,000 square feet, fencing around the whole area, at least 20 percent shade coverage, mostly soft unitary surfacing, and inclusive equipment like accessible swings, Braille and sign language panels, and wheelchair accessible structures. The law would take effect July 1, 2025. ### What it does - Raises the state's maximum annual authorization for school capital outlay funding (construction and renovation money) from $300 million to $375 million, starting with fiscal year 2027. - Keeps the existing rule that the funding cap is adjusted each year based on construction cost data tracked by the Department of Education. - Requires the State Board of Education to set common minimum facility requirements that now include specific playground design standards for new elementary schools. - Requires any playground built at a new elementary school after July 1, 2027 to meet size, fencing, shading, surfacing, and accessible equipment requirements. - Sets the overall effective date of the Act as July 1, 2025. ### Who it affects Local school systems and school boards seeking state construction funding, the State Board of Education and Department of Education, which administer the funding formula and facility standards, and students, including children with disabilities, who would use new elementary school playgrounds built after July 2027. ### Why it matters More school districts could receive state help paying for construction projects because the funding ceiling rises by $75 million a year. New elementary school playgrounds built after mid-2027 would have to be designed so children with physical, sensory, or communication differences can use them alongside their classmates. ### 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, beginning with fiscal year 2027 applications. - Section 1 keeps the requirement that state and legislative funding deliberations consider at least three funding levels below the new $375 million maximum. - Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-261 to add a new paragraph (3) requiring playgrounds at new elementary schools built on or after July 1, 2027 to meet detailed accessibility and design standards. - Section 2 lists minimum guidelines including a 10,000 square foot minimum size, perimeter fencing, at least 20 percent shaded area, and unitary (soft) surfacing covering at least 80 percent of the playground. - Section 2 requires inclusive play equipment such as communication boards, ASL and Braille panels, adaptive swings, and wheelchair accessible slides and structures. - Section 3 sets the Act's effective date as July 1, 2025. - Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-05-09) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 (2025-05-09) - Sponsors: John Corbett, Rick Townsend, Gerald Greene, Matt Dubnik, Chris Erwin, John Kennedy - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70133 > The history, votes, and amendments (1,199 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb371.md?full=1