HB1051: HB1051 Lanier Johnson-Hunt Student Protection Act; enact

Georgia law already requires local school systems that use law enforcement officers in schools to have a written agreement covering the officers' role in discipline and student privacy. This bill, called the Lanier Johnson-Hunt Student Protection Act, adds new requirements to that agreement and to how districts handle complaints against school-based officers. By October 1, 2026, the written agreement must state that no law enforcement officer can be asked or allowed to step into a school disciplinary matter unless it involves suspected criminal conduct or an immediate threat to a person's safety or school property. The bill also requires the Department of Education to publish model agreement language by August 1, 2026, and requires local boards of education to adopt, by October 1, 2026, a complaint process for students and parents to challenge officer misconduct, with substantiated complaints reported to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council for investigation.

• Bars law enforcement officers from intervening in ordinary school discipline unless the matter involves suspected criminal conduct or an immediate threat to safety, starting October 1, 2026.
• Requires local boards of education that use officers in schools to adopt a written complaint process for students and parents by October 1, 2026, covering officer misconduct or excessive force.
• Requires substantiated complaints against officers to be reported to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council for investigation under Chapter 8 of Title 35.
• Requires the complaint procedures to be substantially similar to existing district procedures for complaints against teachers or administrators.
• Moves the deadline for the Department of Education to publish model agreement language from August 1, 2025 to August 1, 2026.

School resource officers and local law enforcement agencies that work in Georgia public schools, local boards of education that must update agreements and adopt complaint policies, students and parents who may file complaints, the Department of Education, and the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.

Officers stationed in schools would be restricted from handling routine discipline like a dress code violation or talking back, reserving their involvement for suspected crimes or safety threats. Students and parents would gain a formal way to challenge officer conduct, with substantiated cases forwarded for state investigation.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'Lanier Johnson-Hunt Student Protection Act.'
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1183(c) to require agreements to bar officer intervention in discipline unless criminal conduct or an immediate safety threat is involved, effective October 1, 2026.
• Section 2 amends subsection (d) to push the Department of Education's model language publication deadline to August 1, 2026.
• Section 2 adds subsection (e), requiring local boards of education to adopt by October 1, 2026 a complaint process for students and parents alleging violations of the agreement, excessive force, or misconduct under O.C.G.A. § 35-8-7.1.
• Subsection (e) requires substantiated complaints to be reported to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council for investigation under Chapter 8 of Title 35.
• Subsection (e) states the new complaint policy applies to complaints arising on or after October 1, 2026.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-29House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-27House Hopper (House)

• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)Primary sponsor
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Eric Bell (D, HD-075)
• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)

• school resource officers
• student discipline
• school safety
• student privacy
• education policy