SB 181: Education; public schools and public postsecondary institutions shall not accept funding from or enter into contracts with foreign adversaries; provide

Georgia law currently has no specific rule blocking schools and colleges from accepting money or signing contracts with foreign adversary governments or organizations linked to them. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's education code (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-12) to close that gap. The bill defines a foreign adversary as any government or nongovernment group the U.S. Secretary of Commerce has designated as such under federal regulations in effect on February 4, 2025. It defines funding broadly to include gifts, grants, donations, payments for services, investments, salaries, wages, and other compensation. It then flatly prohibits public schools, local school systems, and public postsecondary institutions (University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia schools) from directly or indirectly accepting such funding or entering contracts with foreign adversaries or anyone acting on their behalf. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not list a separate effective date.

• Adds a new Georgia code section banning public schools, local school systems, and public colleges from accepting funding tied to designated foreign adversary governments or groups.
• Bans these institutions from entering contracts, directly or indirectly, with foreign adversaries or anyone working on their behalf.
• Defines foreign adversary by reference to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce's list under federal regulation 15 C.F.R. Section 791.4 as it existed on February 4, 2025.
• Defines funding broadly to cover gifts, grants, donations, payments for services, investments, salaries, wages, fees, and other monetary exchanges.
• Applies the ban to K-12 public schools, local education agencies, and public postsecondary institutions including University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia schools.

Public K-12 schools and local school systems, the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia institutions, and any foreign governments or organizations designated as foreign adversaries, along with individuals or entities acting on their behalf that might otherwise fund or contract with Georgia schools.

Georgia schools and colleges that currently receive grants, donations, or contracts connected to countries or groups designated as foreign adversaries would have to end or avoid those financial relationships, potentially cutting off certain funding sources or partnerships tied to those entities.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 20-1-12 defining 'foreign adversary' using the U.S. Secretary of Commerce's designation list under 15 C.F.R. Section 791.4 as of February 4, 2025.
• Section 1 defines 'funding' to include gifts, grants, donations, service payments, capital investments, salaries, wages, compensation, and fees.
• Section 1 defines 'local education agency' by cross-reference to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-167.1 and 'public postsecondary institution' as University System or Technical College System schools.
• Section 1 prohibits public schools, local education agencies, and public postsecondary institutions from directly or indirectly accepting funding from, or contracting with, foreign adversaries or those acting on their behalf.
• Section 2 repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new provision.

1. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-03Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2025-02-28Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
4. 2025-02-24Senate Withdrawn & Recommitted (Senate)
5. 2025-02-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-02-13Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)Primary sponsor
• Max Burns (R, SD-23)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-51)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-30)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)

• foreign adversaries
• public school funding
• higher education contracts
• education policy
• national security