SB 537: Education; schools that receive state funds from displaying any flag other than the flag of the United States or the flag, coat of arms, or state emblem of the State of Georgia; prohibit

Currently Georgia law does not restrict which flags schools can display. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's education code (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-13) that bars any elementary, secondary, or postsecondary school receiving state funds from displaying, anywhere on property it owns, leases, or operates for educational purposes, any flag except the United States flag or Georgia's flag, coat of arms, or state emblem. The bill also makes it a crime for any individual to display or cause to be displayed a prohibited flag at such a school. The bill does not specify a penalty for this new offense or set an effective date beyond the standard process, and it repeals any conflicting laws.

• Bars any Georgia school (elementary, secondary, or postsecondary) that receives state funds from displaying any flag other than the U.S. flag or Georgia's flag, coat of arms, or state emblem.
• Applies the ban to all facilities the school owns, leases, or operates for educational purposes, at any time.
• Makes it unlawful for any individual to display or cause to be displayed a banned flag at a covered school.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new rule.

Public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools in Georgia that receive state funding, along with their administrators, teachers, and staff who might display flags, and any individual, such as a student, employee, or visitor, who might put up a flag on school property.

Schools that currently display flags such as pride flags, historical flags, or other symbolic banners would have to remove them or risk violating state law. Individuals who put up a prohibited flag on school grounds could face legal consequences, changing what visual displays are allowed in Georgia's publicly funded schools.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 20-1-13(a), prohibiting any school receiving state funds from displaying any flag besides the U.S. flag or Georgia's flag, coat of arms, or state emblem, anywhere on school-owned or operated property.
• Section 1 also adds subsection (b), making it unlawful for any individual to display or cause the display of a flag banned under subsection (a).
• Section 2 repeals any Georgia laws that conflict with this new provision.

1. 2026-02-20Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
2. 2026-02-19Senate Hopper (Senado)

• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)Patrocinador principal
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)

• school flag policy
• public education
• state funding conditions
• free speech in schools