HR1857: HR1857 Education, Department of; increase teacher compensation and establish a salary structure indexed to the cost of living to ensure competitive, sustainable wages; urge

This resolution does not change Georgia law. It expresses the House of Representatives' view that teacher salaries have not kept pace with the rising cost of living, making it harder to recruit and retain qualified teachers. The resolution notes that Georgia already has a statewide minimum salary schedule based on certification level and years of experience, but says that schedule does not consistently account for inflation or regional cost differences. The resolution urges the Georgia Department of Education to increase teacher compensation and build a salary structure indexed to the cost of living. It further urges the department to develop a framework tying the minimum salary schedule for certificated educators to inflation and regional economic conditions. It directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to the Department of Education, the public, and the press. Because it is a resolution rather than a bill, it carries no enforcement mechanism or funding requirement.

• Urges, but does not legally require, the Georgia Department of Education to raise teacher compensation statewide.
• Urges the department to create a salary structure for teachers that adjusts with the cost of living.
• Calls for a framework indexing the existing minimum salary schedule for certificated educators to inflation and regional economic conditions.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the Department of Education, the public, and the press.
• Does not amend any Georgia statute, appropriate any funding, or set a specific salary figure or timeline.

Georgia's public school teachers and other certificated educators, whose pay could eventually be affected if the Department of Education acts on this request, and the Georgia Department of Education itself, which is the target of the resolution's request.

If the Department of Education follows through, teachers could see pay that rises automatically with inflation and regional living costs rather than staying fixed. As a resolution, though, it creates no legal obligation, so any actual change in teacher pay would depend on separate future action.

• The whereas clauses describe the problem: current teacher salaries do not consistently track inflation or cost-of-living changes despite an existing statewide minimum salary schedule.
• The first resolving clause urges the Department of Education to increase teacher compensation and create a cost-of-living-indexed salary structure.
• The second resolving clause specifically urges development of a framework indexing the minimum salary schedule to inflation and regional economic conditions.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the Department of Education, the public, and the press.

1. 2026-03-27House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-23House Hopper (House)

• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)Primary sponsor
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)
• Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)

• teacher pay
• public education
• cost of living
• education policy