SB 150: Retirement; permit public school systems to employ certain beneficiaries of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia as classroom teachers; extend the program

Since 2022, Georgia law has let public school systems bring back certain retired teachers from the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia to teach in classroom subjects with the biggest teacher shortages, called 'areas of highest need.' That program was set to expire in mid-2026. This bill extends it through June 30, 2030. The bill also changes how areas of highest need are calculated: instead of being tied to a Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA), they are now determined for each individual public school system. It adds a second path for eligible retirees to be rehired if they teach math, special education, science, career and technical education (CTAE), or reading, writing, or English language arts, with reading/writing/ELA teachers needing a dyslexia or reading endorsement. It also bars firing, forcing resignation, or not renewing a rehired retiree just because the school system's list of high-need areas later changes, and pushes the required state performance audit from 2025 to 2029. The changes only take effect July 1, 2026 if state retirement funding rules are satisfied; otherwise the law repeals itself that date.

• Extends the program allowing public school systems to rehire retired teachers with 30 years of service as classroom teachers from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2030.
• Changes how 'areas of highest need' are calculated, basing them on each individual public school system instead of a Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA).
• Adds a new eligibility path letting rehired retirees teach math, special education, science, CTAE, or reading/writing/English language arts (the latter requiring a dyslexia or reading endorsement).
• Prohibits firing, forcing resignation of, or declining to renew a rehired retiree solely because a school system's areas of highest need later change.
• Moves the deadline for the state auditor's required performance audit of the program from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2029.
• Makes the whole Act's effective date, July 1, 2026, contingent on the program being funded under Georgia's Public Retirement Systems Standards Law, with automatic repeal if it is not.

Retired teachers with 30 years of creditable service who want to return to the classroom, public school systems statewide that hire them, the Department of Education and Professional Standards Commission, which determine high-need subject areas, and the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, which receives employer contributions for these hires.

Retired teachers could keep working in classrooms, including in more subject areas like math and special education, for four more years, while gaining job protection if their school's shortage areas shift. Whether the extension actually takes effect depends on a separate state funding certification.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 47-3-127.1 to extend the beneficiary rehiring program from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2030.
• Adds paragraph (a)(2) creating a new eligibility category for retirees teaching math, special education, science, CTAE, or reading/writing/ELA, with an endorsement requirement for the latter.
• Redefines 'area of highest need' in subsection (d) to be based on each public school system rather than a RESA, using a five-year survey average reviewed by the Department of Education.
• Adds subsection (e) barring termination, resignation, or nonrenewal of a rehired beneficiary due to later changes in a school system's areas of highest need.
• Moves the required state auditor performance audit deadline from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2029.
• Section 2 conditions the Act's July 1, 2026 effective date on funding certification under the Public Retirement Systems Standards Law (O.C.G.A. Ch. 47-20), with automatic repeal otherwise.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 399
3. 2026-05-05Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senado)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senado)
5. 2026-03-31Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senado)
6. 2026-03-27House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2026-03-27House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2026-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)

• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)Patrocinador principal
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)

1. AprobadaVotación: Senado9 de febrero de 2026

   48 a favor, 1 en contra (0 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #529

2. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes27 de marzo de 2026

   159 a favor, 0 en contra (7 sin votar, 10 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #775

3. AprobadaVotación: Senado31 de marzo de 2026

   49 a favor, 0 en contra (2 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #916

• teacher retirement
• public school staffing
• teacher shortages
• education policy
• retirement benefits