SB552: SB552 "True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act"; enact

Georgia public schools currently allow some noncurricular student clubs to meet outside of class time under what's called a limited open forum, but there was no specific state law addressing political student groups. This bill, called the True Patriotism and Universal Student Access (TPUSA) Act, adds a new section to Georgia law spelling out that students can engage in political activities and speech before, during, and after school to the same extent they can engage in nonpolitical activities. Schools that offer a limited open forum for noncurricular clubs cannot deny access to political, philosophical, or ideological student groups based on the content of their speech. Students can also organize partisan or nonpartisan political groups and wear political clothing or symbols under the same rules that apply to other messages. The bill preserves schools' authority to maintain order, protect student safety, and prevent disruption, harassment, or threats, and it does not require schools to spend money beyond incidental costs.

• Guarantees students in Georgia public schools the right to engage in political activities and speech to the same extent as nonpolitical activities.
• Allows students to organize partisan or nonpartisan political groups on the same terms as other noncurricular clubs during noninstructional time.
• Bans public schools with a limited open forum from denying access to student meetings based on political, philosophical, or ideological content of the speech.
• Requires schools to give political student groups the same ability to advertise meetings as other noncurricular groups, without discriminating based on political content.
• Permits students to wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry with political messages under the same dress code rules that apply to other messages or symbols.
• Preserves schools' authority to maintain order, ensure voluntary attendance, and restrict conduct that is disruptive, harassing, or violent.

Public school students who want to form or join political clubs, public school administrators and teachers who oversee noncurricular clubs and disclaimers of sponsorship, and local school boards that set dress codes and rules for student groups meeting on campus.

Students would have a clearer legal right to start political clubs, hold meetings, and wear political symbols at school without being singled out because of their viewpoint, while schools would still be able to shut down disruptive, unsafe, or unlawful conduct.

• New Code Section 20-2-706(a) defines key terms including 'meeting,' 'noninstructional time,' 'sponsor,' and 'sponsorship' for purposes of the new rules.
• Subsection (b) guarantees students the right to engage in and organize political activities and groups to the same extent as nonpolitical ones.
• Subsection (c) makes it unlawful for a school with a limited open forum to deny equal access to student meetings based on political or ideological content, and defines what counts as a 'fair opportunity.'
• Subsection (d) requires equal access to facilities and equal ability to advertise meetings for partisan and nonpartisan political groups compared to other noncurricular groups.
• Subsection (e) requires that any school disclaimer of sponsorship of student groups not favor or disfavor political student groups.
• Subsection (f) allows students to wear political clothing, accessories, and jewelry under the same dress code standards applied to other messages.
• Subsection (g) clarifies the law does not let the state influence the content of political activity, force participation, require extra public spending, or compel employees to attend meetings against their beliefs.
• Subsection (h) preserves school authority to maintain order and discipline, protect student safety, ensure voluntary attendance, and restrict disruptive, harmful, or unlawful conduct.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 497
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-31Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-31House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-31House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-31House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)

• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)Primary sponsor
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Steven McNeel (R, SD-018)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Blake Tillery (R, SD-019)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)

1. FailedSenate voteMarch 4, 2026

   21 yea, 32 nay (0 not voting, 2 absent)

   Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 38th: Senate Vote #622

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 4, 2026

   46 yea, 7 nay (0 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #623

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2026

   95 yea, 68 nay (3 not voting, 10 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #804

4. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   42 yea, 7 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #913

• student rights
• public schools
• political speech
• school clubs
• student dress code