HB1099: HB1099 Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act; enact

Georgia law currently allows public schools to provide Braille instruction to blind or visually impaired students but does not lay out a detailed process for deciding when it is needed. This bill, called the Blind Persons' Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act, adds a new Code section spelling out that process. It requires a qualified special education teacher to evaluate a blind or visually impaired student's reading and writing needs, and requires that student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) to include Braille instruction unless the IEP team specifically decides, based on that evaluation and supporting evidence, that it is not appropriate. The bill also sets detailed content requirements for what must go in the IEP, such as a start date for instruction, session length, and competency goals. It bars school boards from buying textbooks or instructional materials unless an electronic version exists that can be converted into Braille or synthesized speech. Starting July 1, 2026, the Professional Standards Commission could not issue or renew a special education visual impairment endorsement unless the teacher completes Braille training, holds a recognized Braille certificate, or passes a Braille test.

• Creates a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-152.3) defining terms like 'blind or visually impaired student' and 'Braille' for Georgia special education law.
• Requires a qualified evaluation of a blind or visually impaired student's reading and writing skills before deciding whether to include Braille instruction in their IEP.
• Requires Braille instruction in a student's IEP by default, unless the IEP team documents specific evidence that it is not needed.
• Sets detailed content requirements for IEPs, including start dates, session frequency, and measurable Braille competency goals.
• Bans local school boards from purchasing textbooks or instructional materials unless an electronic version can be converted into Braille or synthesized speech.
• Requires special education visual impairment teachers to complete Braille training, hold a Braille certificate, or pass a Braille test to renew their endorsement after July 1, 2026.

Blind and visually impaired students who qualify for special education services, their IEP teams and parents, local school boards and public school governing bodies that purchase textbooks, textbook and instructional materials publishers, and special education teachers seeking a visual impairment endorsement from the Professional Standards Commission.

Families of blind or visually impaired students would gain a clearer, evidence-based process ensuring Braille is considered rather than skipped by default. School districts would face new textbook purchasing requirements, and teachers seeking or renewing a visual impairment endorsement would need proven Braille skills starting in mid-2026.

• Subsection (b) defines 'blind or visually impaired student' using specific visual acuity, field of vision, and medical deterioration thresholds tied to federal special education eligibility.
• Subsection (d) requires an evaluation by a teacher with a special education visual impairment endorsement before an IEP team can exclude Braille instruction.
• Subsection (e) lists required IEP contents, including instruction start dates, session length and frequency, and objective measures of Braille competency.
• Subsection (e)(6) requires written justification, based on relevant literature and evidence, if an IEP team decides Braille instruction is not needed.
• Subsection (f) prohibits school boards from purchasing textbooks or materials unless an electronic version exists that can be converted into Braille or synthesized speech using compatible markup language.
• Subsection (g) requires, starting July 1, 2026, that teachers renewing a special education visual impairment endorsement complete Braille training, hold a Braille certificate, or pass a Braille test.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-03House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-02House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-29House Hopper (House)

• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)Primary sponsor
• Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)
• Karlton Howard (D, HD-129)
• Segun Adeyina (D, HD-110)
• Robert Dawson (D, HD-065)

• Braille literacy
• special education
• blind and visually impaired students
• IEP requirements
• textbook accessibility