HB1271: HB1271 Education; revise definition of education record to correct a cross-reference; provisions

Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-720) lets parents and legal custodians inspect and review their children's education records held by local school systems. The current version of the law defines 'education record' by pointing to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-662, but this bill says that reference is wrong and updates it to point instead to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-670. The bill also updates the rule that bars local boards of education from denying or effectively preventing parents' and legal custodians' access to those records, so it now cites both O.C.G.A. § 20-2-667 and § 20-2-670 as the source of the right being protected. The changes would take effect as soon as the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without a signature.

• Corrects the definition of 'education record' in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-720 by changing its cross-reference from § 20-2-662 to § 20-2-670.
• Updates the rule barring local school boards from denying parents' or legal custodians' access to student records to cite both § 20-2-667 and § 20-2-670.
• Leaves the existing definitions of 'legal custodian,' 'local board of education,' and 'parent' in the statute unchanged.
• Sets the effective date as the moment the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without the Governor's signature.

Parents and legal custodians of students enrolled in Georgia public schools, local boards of education across the state, the Department of Juvenile Justice's school system, and the Division of Family and Children Services, all of which are named in the statute being amended.

Because the current law points to the wrong statute for defining 'education record,' this fix clarifies exactly which records parents and legal custodians are entitled to inspect, reducing ambiguity for school boards applying the access rule day to day.

• Section 1 revises subsection (a)(1) of O.C.G.A. § 20-2-720 to change the education record definition's cross-reference from § 20-2-662 to § 20-2-670.
• Section 1 also revises subsection (b) so the ban on local boards denying record access cites both § 20-2-667 and § 20-2-670.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-12House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-11House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-10House Hopper (House)

• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)Primary sponsor
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
• Will Wade (R, HD-009)
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)
• Holt Persinger (R, HD-119)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)

• student records
• parental rights
• education law
• school records access