Georgia General Assembly · Full text

SB 597: "Student Legal Literacy and Life Skills Education Act"; enact

Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 26, 2026 · Introduced

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Senate Bill 597

By: Senators Mangham of the 55th, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the 34th, Parkes of the 7th and Orrock of the 36th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for a course of instruction in legal literacy and life skills; to provide for the adoption of content standards for such instruction; to require that each local board of education and other public school governing body offer a course of instruction based on such content standards; to require that students complete such course of study prior to graduation; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Student Legal Literacy and Life Skills Education Act."

SECTION 2.

Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"20-2-149.5.

(a) No later than January 1, 2027, the State Board of Education shall adopt content standards for a course of instruction for students in grades nine through 12 in legal literacy and life skills. At a minimum, such content standards shall relate to instruction in:

(1) Constitutional rights;

(2) Individual legal responsibilities;

(3) Interactions with law enforcement;

(4) Employment rights, workplace protections, and contracts;

(5) Housing and tenant rights; and

(6) Consequences of violating a criminal law.

(b) Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each local board of education and other public school governing body shall require all students, as a condition of graduation, during their ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade years to complete at least a half-credit course in legal literacy and life skills which implements the course of instruction based on the content standards prescribed pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section. Such course of instruction may be provided within the framework of existing coursework offered by a local school system or other public school governing body. Such course of instruction shall be eligible to count toward a social studies or elective unit of credit requirement for graduation."

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.