---
title: HR 34. Importance of educational funding equity, the protection of local school funding, and the preservation of stable revenue sources for public education; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2026-special/hr34
cite_as: HR 34, 2026 Special Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr34
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr34.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr34/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74894
date: 2026-06-22
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special.md
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr35.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr34.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 34
session: 2026 Special Session
session_slug: 2026-special
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-06-22
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Viola Davis
  - Karla Drenner
  - Billy Mitchell
  - Long Tran
  - Sandra Scott
  - Kim Schofield
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR34/2026/X1
upstream_id: 2154453
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - public school funding
  - property taxes
  - DeKalb County schools
  - education equity
---

# HR 34. Importance of educational funding equity, the protection of local school funding, and the preservation of stable revenue sources for public education; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 34EX
By: Representatives Davis of the 87th, Drenner of the 85th, Mitchell of the 88th, Tran of the
80th, Scott of the 76th, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the importance of educational funding equity, the protection of local school
funding, and the preservation of stable revenue sources for public education; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, the DeKalb County School District serves one of the largest and most diverse
student populations in the State of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, public education is essential to the economic prosperity, workforce
development, public safety, and quality of life of DeKalb County residents; and
WHEREAS, local property taxes have historically provided a stable, predictable, and reliable
source of revenue for public education and school operations; and
WHEREAS, proposals have been advanced at the state level that could reduce, limit, replace,
or eliminate property taxes as a source of funding for public education and local government
services; and
H. R. 34EX
WHEREAS, replacing property tax revenues with sales tax revenues may expose school
districts to increased financial uncertainty during economic downturns and periods of
reduced consumer spending; and
WHEREAS, DeKalb County taxpayers contribute substantial revenues to the State of
Georgia and support educational funding systems that benefit school districts throughout the
state; and
WHEREAS, concerns have been raised regarding whether certain counties, including
DeKalb County, function as donor counties within existing state funding structures and
whether such counties receive an equitable return on taxpayer investment; and
WHEREAS, the DeKalb County School District serves students from diverse socioeconomic
backgrounds, including economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities,
English language learners, refugee and immigrant students, and students requiring additional
educational supports; and
WHEREAS, funding decisions made at the state level have significant consequences for
educational opportunity, student achievement, transportation services, school safety, teacher
retention, workforce development, and community stability.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize the importance of the stable, equitable, and sustainable
funding of public education.
H. R. 34EX
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
public and the press.
H. R. 34EX

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A House resolution recognizes the importance of stable, equitable public school funding and expresses concern about proposals to shift school revenue away from property taxes, focusing on DeKalb County School District.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a statement adopted by the House of Representatives recognizing concerns about how public schools are funded, using the DeKalb County School District as its central example. The resolution notes that local property taxes have historically been a stable funding source for schools and warns that replacing property tax revenue with sales tax revenue could make school funding less predictable during economic downturns.
The resolution also raises the idea that some counties, including DeKalb, may be 'donor counties' that contribute more in state revenue than they receive back in education funding. It concludes by having the House recognize the importance of stable, equitable, and sustainable public school funding, and directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the public and press.

### What it does

- Formally states the House's recognition of the importance of stable, equitable, and sustainable funding for public education.
- Highlights the DeKalb County School District as an example of a large, diverse district affected by state funding decisions.
- Expresses concern that shifting school funding from property taxes to sales taxes could create financial instability during economic downturns.
- Raises the question of whether DeKalb County and similar counties are 'donor counties' that do not get an equitable return on state tax contributions.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

### Who it affects

The resolution names the DeKalb County School District, its students (including economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, English language learners, and refugee and immigrant students), teachers, and DeKalb County taxpayers as the groups most directly discussed.

### Why it matters

Because this is a resolution, it does not change funding formulas or tax law by itself. Its practical effect is to put the House's concerns on record about property tax based school funding and potential shifts toward sales tax revenue, which could influence future legislation.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses describe DeKalb County School District's size, diversity, and reliance on stable property tax revenue for education funding.
- The resolution raises concern that replacing property taxes with sales taxes could expose schools to more financial uncertainty in economic downturns.
- The resolution questions whether DeKalb County functions as a 'donor county' that contributes more state revenue than it receives back for education.
- The resolved clause has the House recognize the importance of stable, equitable, and sustainable public school funding.
- A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-06-22)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-06-22)
- Sponsors: Viola Davis, Karla Drenner, Billy Mitchell, Long Tran, Sandra Scott, Kim Schofield
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74894

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2026-special/hr34.md?full=1