HR1795: HR1795 Local school systems; adopt policies that encourage student civic and political participation; urge

This resolution does not change Georgia law. Instead, it expresses the House of Representatives' position that local school systems should adopt policies supporting student civic and political participation. The resolution states that students should be able to exercise free speech rights when appropriate without punishment from their school system, and that schools should grant excused absences to students who attend or take part in a civic or political event. It concludes by urging local school systems to adopt such policies and directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Urges, but does not require, local school systems in Georgia to adopt policies encouraging student civic and political participation.
• States a position that students should be allowed to exercise free speech when appropriate without punishment from their school system.
• Expresses support for local school systems granting excused absences to students attending or participating in civic or political events.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.

Local school systems and their administrators, who are urged to adopt new attendance and speech-related policies, and public school students, who would benefit if districts choose to excuse absences for civic or political events.

Because this is a resolution rather than a bill, it carries no legal requirement. Its practical effect depends entirely on whether individual local school systems choose to act on the House's stated preference by changing their own attendance or free speech policies.

• The whereas clauses set out the House's reasoning: supporting student free speech and encouraging excused absences for civic or political events.
• The first resolving clause urges local school systems to adopt policies encouraging student civic and political participation.
• The second resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available for distribution to the public and press.

1. 2026-03-23House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-20House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-19House Hopper (House)

• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)Primary sponsor
• Omari Crawford (D, HD-089)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Anne Westbrook (D, HD-163)
• Akbar Ali (D, HD-106)

• student rights
• school policy
• civic engagement
• free speech
• school attendance