HB1206: HB1206 Education; require local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to consider total cost of ownership and related factors when purchasing school technology devices

Georgia school districts currently buy laptops, tablets, and other classroom technology without any state requirement to weigh long-term costs beyond the sticker price. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's education code requiring local boards of education and other public school governing bodies to consider the total cost of ownership when purchasing school technology devices worth more than $100. Boards would have to weigh repair costs over the device's lifespan, how flexible the device is for future upgrades, and its expected resale or salvage value compared to what it cost. Starting in 2027, districts would report yearly data to the Department of Education on how many devices they have, their 'break/fix rate,' how many needed repair, and how much was spent fixing or replacing them. The department would then compile this into an annual report to the Governor, legislative leaders, and the House and Senate education committees by December 31 each year.

• Adds a new Georgia code section requiring local school boards and other public school governing bodies to weigh long-term cost of ownership when buying school technology devices.
• Defines a 'school technology device' as electronic equipment worth more than $100 used for education, including computers, tablets, and interactive whiteboards.
• Requires boards to consider repair costs, flexibility for future upgrades, and resale or salvage value before purchasing devices.
• Requires each local board, starting in 2027, to report annually to the Department of Education on device counts, repair rates, and repair or replacement spending.
• Requires the Department of Education to compile those reports into a yearly summary for the Governor and legislative leaders by December 31.

Local boards of education and other public school governing bodies across Georgia, the Department of Education, and school administrators who handle technology purchasing and repair budgets are directly affected. Students and teachers who use school-issued devices are indirectly affected through purchasing decisions.

School districts would have to think beyond the upfront price tag when buying computers and tablets, factoring in repair costs and resale value, which could shape which devices get purchased. The new reporting requirements would also give state officials yearly visibility into how much districts spend fixing or replacing broken technology.

• Adds new O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1018 defining 'break/fix rate,' 'department,' and 'school technology device' (equipment over $100 in value).
• Subsection (b) requires boards to weigh long-term ownership costs including repairs, flexibility for innovation, and anticipated resale or salvage value when purchasing devices.
• Subsection (c) requires each local board, starting in 2027, to report device counts, break/fix rates, repair and out-of-service figures, and repair/replacement spending to the Department of Education by October 15 each year.
• Subsection (d) requires the Department of Education to submit a combined report to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, and House and Senate education committee chairs by December 31 each year, starting in 2027.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-03House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-02-09House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-06House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-05House Hopper (House)

• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)Primary sponsor
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)

• school technology
• education funding
• public schools
• school board reporting