SB 552: "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act"; enact

Georgia public schools sometimes allow noncurricular student clubs to meet during free periods, a practice known as a limited open forum. This bill adds a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-706) spelling out that if a school allows any such clubs, it cannot deny political, philosophical, or ideological student groups the same access, based on the content of their speech. The bill lets students organize partisan or nonpartisan political groups and engage in political activities before, during, and after school to the same extent they can organize other noncurricular activities. It sets conditions meetings must meet to count as a 'fair opportunity,' including that meetings are voluntary, student led, not sponsored by the school, and do not disrupt school operations or infringe on other students' rights. It also lets students wear political clothing, accessories, or jewelry under the same dress code rules that apply to other symbols or messages. Schools keep authority to maintain order, protect safety, and enforce attendance rules.

• Creates a new Code section requiring public schools with a limited open forum to give political, philosophical, or ideological student groups the same access as other noncurricular groups.
• Allows students to organize partisan or nonpartisan political groups and activities before, during, and after school on the same terms as other student clubs.
• Sets specific conditions (voluntary, student initiated, no school sponsorship, no disruption, no infringing on others' rights) that define a 'fair opportunity' for meetings.
• Permits students to wear political clothing, accessories, or jewelry to the same extent other symbols or messages are allowed under school dress codes.
• Bars schools from letting outsiders direct or regularly attend student political group meetings.
• Preserves school authority to keep order, ensure safety, keep attendance voluntary, and stop disruptive or harassing conduct.

Public school students in Georgia who want to form or join political, philosophical, or ideological clubs; public school administrators, teachers, and staff who oversee student clubs and dress codes; and local school districts that already allow noncurricular student groups to meet.

Students at schools that already permit noncurricular clubs would gain a clearer legal right to start political or ideological groups and wear political symbols without being singled out for the content of their views, while schools retain power to prevent disruption or enforce safety and attendance rules.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act.'
• Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 20-2-706, defining 'meeting,' 'noninstructional time,' 'sponsor,' and 'sponsorship' for purposes of the new law.
• Subsection (b) guarantees students the right to engage in and organize political activities and groups on the same terms as nonpolitical ones.
• Subsection (c) makes it unlawful for a school with a limited open forum to deny equal access to student meetings based on the political or ideological content of speech, and defines what counts as a 'fair opportunity.'
• Subsection (e) requires any school disclaimer of sponsorship to be neutral, neither favoring nor disfavoring politically active student groups.
• Subsection (f) allows students to wear political clothing, accessories, and jewelry under the same rules that apply to other dress code items.
• Subsections (g) and (h) clarify limits, stating the law does not force schools to fund extra activities, compel staff participation, or restrict schools' ability to maintain order and discipline.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 497
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-31Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-31House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-31House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-31House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)

• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)Primary sponsor
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Steven McNeel (R, SD-018)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)

1. FailedSenate voteMarch 4, 2026

   21 yea, 32 nay (0 not voting, 2 absent)

   Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 38th: Senate Vote #622

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 4, 2026

   46 yea, 7 nay (0 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #623

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2026

   95 yea, 68 nay (3 not voting, 10 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #804

4. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   42 yea, 7 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #913

• student rights
• free speech in schools
• political clubs
• public education
• school policy