HR 1582: House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation; create

Georgia's statewide teacher salary schedule currently stops adding step increases after 21 years of service, even though the average teacher stays in the profession for 25.5 years. Some local school districts add their own supplements for longer-serving teachers, but others cannot afford to. This resolution does not change teacher pay itself; it creates the House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation to study the issue and recommend legislation. The committee would have six House members appointed by the Speaker of the House, who would also name a chairperson. It can hold meetings as needed, and members would receive standard legislative allowances (O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8) for up to five days unless more are approved, paid from House funds. The committee must file any approved report or recommended legislation before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation to examine pay for experienced teachers.
• Directs the Speaker of the House to appoint six House members to the committee and designate a chairperson.
• Authorizes the committee to study the lack of salary step increases after 21 years of teaching and recommend legislation.
• Sets standard legislative per diem allowances for committee members, capped at five days unless extended, funded through the House budget.
• Requires the committee to file a report or meeting minutes with the Clerk of the House before it dissolves.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

Georgia public school teachers, especially those with more than 21 years of service; local school districts that set teacher pay supplements; the six House members appointed to the committee; and the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, whose data is cited in the resolution.

No teacher's pay changes because of this resolution. It sets up a formal House process to study whether Georgia should add a later-career salary step, similar to a Year 28 step recommended by a state educator retention group, which could shape future teacher pay legislation.

• Paragraph (1) creates the House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation.
• Paragraph (2) sets the committee at six House members appointed by the Speaker, who also names the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) authorizes the committee to study veteran teacher compensation issues and recommend legislation.
• Paragraph (5) sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five paid days unless more are authorized, funded from House appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or recommended legislation to be filed with the Clerk of the House before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-16House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-03-06House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-04House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-03House Hopper (House)

• Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)Primary sponsor
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)

• teacher pay
• education policy
• teacher retention
• legislative study committees