HB 544: Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement; establish

Georgia law already requires public schools to tell eligible students about their right to register to vote and to give them a chance to register at school each April. This bill adds a new award tied to that existing requirement. The bill amends Georgia's student registration law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-310) to create the Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement. Schools would qualify for a gold level award if 100 percent of their eligible students are registered to vote, or a silver level award if 85 percent are registered. The Department of Education would be responsible for writing the policies and procedures needed to identify and recognize qualifying schools. The bill does not specify an effective date beyond the standard process, and it repeals any conflicting laws.

• Creates the Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement as a new recognition program for Georgia public schools.
• Sets a gold level award for schools where 100 percent of eligible students are registered to vote.
• Sets a silver level award for schools where 85 percent of eligible students are registered to vote.
• Directs the Department of Education to develop policies and procedures for identifying and recognizing qualifying schools.
• Leaves in place the existing requirement that schools inform students of their voting and Selective Service registration rights.

Public school students, especially those eligible to register to vote; public school administrators, who already arrange April voter registration opportunities; and the Department of Education, which must create the rules for awarding recognition under this new program.

Schools that reach high voter registration rates among eligible students would get formal state recognition, which could encourage schools to promote voter registration drives more actively. The change adds an incentive program rather than a new legal obligation on students themselves.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-310 to add a new paragraph (2) establishing the Jimmy Carter Award for Civic Engagement.
• Sets a gold level threshold of 100 percent of eligible students registered to vote at a school.
• Sets a silver level threshold of 85 percent of eligible students registered to vote at a school.
• Assigns the Department of Education responsibility for developing recognition policies and procedures.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-24House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-21House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)Primary sponsor
• Tanya Miller (D, HD-062)
• Samuel Park (D, HD-107)
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
• Saira Draper (D, HD-090)

• voter registration
• public schools
• civic engagement
• education awards