HB1249: HB1249 Education; require public elementary and secondary schools to display the Bill of Rights in multiple locations

Current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1021) lets public schools display historical documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights but does not require it. This bill changes that specifically for the Bill of Rights. By January 1, 2027, every public elementary and secondary school in Georgia would have to display a durable poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights at the main entrance of the main building, the main entrance of the library or media center, and the main entrance of the cafeteria. The display must be at least 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall, with a centered heading reading "The Bill of Rights" in larger type than the rest of the text, followed by the First through Tenth Amendments with subheadings identifying each amendment. Schools do not have to spend public money on the posters; they must accept donated funds or donated posters that meet the requirements. The State Board of Education must write implementing rules, and the Department of Education must post free compliant resources online. The bill would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law.

• Requires every public elementary and secondary school in Georgia to display a poster or framed copy of the Bill of Rights by January 1, 2027.
• Specifies three exact display locations: the main entrance of the main building, the library or media center, and the cafeteria.
• Sets minimum size (18 by 24 inches) and content rules for the display, including a larger centered heading and legible text of all ten amendments.
• Bars schools from having to spend public funds on the displays, while requiring them to accept donated posters or donated funds for them.
• Directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules to implement the requirement and the Department of Education to publish free compliant resources online.
• Keeps existing language barring content based censorship of historical documents due to their religious or cultural nature.

Public elementary and secondary schools, local school boards, and charter schools across Georgia, which must post the displays; the State Board of Education and Department of Education, which must write rules and publish resources; and students and staff who will see the postings in school hallways and common areas.

Schools that do not already display the Bill of Rights in these three spots would need to obtain and post compliant materials by January 1, 2027, changing what appears on walls near entrances, libraries, and cafeterias statewide, while the no-spending clause shifts the cost question toward donations rather than school budgets.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-1021 to add a new subsection (b) requiring display of the Bill of Rights by January 1, 2027.
• Paragraph (2) lists the three required display locations within each school facility.
• Paragraph (3) sets the minimum poster size and specifies exactly what text and formatting must appear, including a larger heading and legible amendment subheadings.
• Paragraph (4) clarifies schools need not spend public funds but must accept donated funds or donated posters meeting the requirements.
• Paragraph (5) directs the State Board of Education to adopt implementing rules and regulations.
• Paragraph (6) requires the Department of Education to publish free compliant resources on its website.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as upon the Governor's approval or the bill otherwise becoming law.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-11House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-10House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-09House Hopper (House)

• Mary Ann Santos (D, HD-117)Primary sponsor

• public schools
• Bill of Rights display
• education law
• civics education