Georgia CommonsHR 1582: House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation; create
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action March 16, 2026 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
House Resolution 1582
By: Representatives Rice of the 139th, Erwin of the 32nd, Dubnik of the 29th, Donatucci of the 105th, Hilton of the 48th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Creating the House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, protecting and strengthening the teacher workforce are key priorities for this state, the General Assembly, and the House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, experienced veteran educators provide skilled instruction to students and serve as an invaluable resource in the mentoring of their less experienced peers; and
WHEREAS, Georgia's current state-wide teacher salary schedule does not include any salary step increases after 21 years of service; and
WHEREAS, while some school districts provide further step increases through local supplements, other school districts are unable to provide similar step increases with current resources; and
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is currently experiencing a persistent and ongoing teacher shortage; and
WHEREAS, Teachers Retirement System of Georgia reports the average length of service for teachers is currently 25.5 years, several years short of the full-retirement service length of 30 years; and
WHEREAS, the lack of salary increases in the later stages of a teacher's career fails to recognize the value veteran teachers bring to the profession and contributes to higher attrition rates; and
WHEREAS, in December 2025, the Georgia Roundtable for Strategic Educator Recruitment and Retention recommended an additional salary step at Year 28 to encourage continued service in its "Strategic Plan for Educator Recruitment and Retention"; and
WHEREAS, further study on this issue is needed to study and identify the most beneficial and cost-effective way to recognize the importance of veteran teachers and properly reward and incentivize their continued retention in the workforce.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation.
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of six members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.
(5) Allowances and funding.
(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
(B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives.
(6) Report.
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.