Connect with us

Georgia

7 predictions for Georgia’s 2026 legislative session

Published

on

7 predictions for Georgia’s 2026 legislative session


Politically Georgia

Your daily jolt of news and analysis from the AJC politics team.

Legislators in the House chambers as seen on Crossover Day at the Capitol in Atlanta on Thursday, March 6, 2025. (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

Today’s newsletter highlights:

Advertisement
  • Clay Fuller’s congressional campaign launches first digital ad.
  • House Republicans highlight their “affordable” agenda.
  • Jon Ossoff asks why Georgia is still waiting on some Helene aid.

Back in session

House lawmakers listened to debate on a bill last March at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

House lawmakers listened to debate on a bill last March at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

lliw lliw nehw ew yadot ot ot ll’yeht eht eht eht eht taht etats trats epahs tes .noisses deriuqer seceip ssap ssap rehto ylno fo fo fo .evil noitalsigel srekamwal si si sderdnuh woh levag rof lanif llif ytud .nwod yllanoitutitsnoc emoc yb tegdub osla a riehT etatS lotipaC tuB lirpA yad-04 ,2

s’tahw snoitciderp rof wef era :daeha a ereH

?raey raey htiw htiw lliw lliw ediw er’ew yaw weiv ot emit siht eht eht eht eht taht xat ekat .sulprus sulprus erus s’etats ,terces ylhguor setaber yllaer ecar ,stcejorp tuo rehto nepo emit-eno eno .eciffo fo fo ?won txen erom evitalsigel sredael :ti si otni ni ni ni ni sih s’ereh eh eh dedraug s’ronrevog ,ronrevog rof lanif wollef .sesnepxe neve spid repeed .krad ylesolc koobkcehc egrahc latipac nac etib noillib gib gnitteb eb eb dna adnega a a a a yhW ,lleW knihT ehT nacilbupeR pmeK .voG tuB nairB .1 51$

s’raey t’now ew gnihctaw ot ot rieht naht esirprus .enihsnus emos htooms noisses .gnilias dias snoitaler swobniar sevom cim ekam tel sredael tsal wonk .ecnednepedni ll’eh rof .detcepxe tcepxe dedne reilrae pord t’nod senogyb senogyb eb eb tressa dna retfa yltpurba ,seY er’eW rekaepS .tL ’senoJ noJ etaneS-esuoH esuoH esuoH .voG tuB truB snruB .2

sraey raey t’now lliw sraw rednegsnart siht yeht eht eht eht eht stegrat llits laicos .deniledis .noisses sthgir ,snoitcirtser suoigiler taem-der ylralucitrap revo revo no fo wen ,stimil ekil ytrebil seussi ,sevitaitini noisulcni ni nug og teg stnorf ,reddof ,snoisnapxe ytiuqe raey-noitcele etanimod ,ytisrevid etabed dluoc tub .renrub sllib eb eb kcab dna dna noitroba erehT .etaneS AGAM del-senoJ tcepxE erutluC retfA .3

Advertisement

s’raey htrow rehtehw erew hgiew lacov owt pot ot eht eht eht xat xat niarts ediwetats reprahs staes .eunever secar gninoitseuq tup rewop ruop lacitilop desiop no no fo fo dnim .enil evitalsigel srekamwal raey-etal tsal boj erutcurtsarfni ecneulfni ylgnisaercni ni htworg sdirg enilosag rof pilf tluaf neve neve .etabed atad atad dluoc tsoc sretnec sretnec sretnec sretnec skaerb emoceb tidua sa era era era dna dna dna dna na .niaga tuoba ecivreS cilbuP citarcomeD ataD ataD seitinummoC noissimmoC A .4

lliw lliw lliw elaselohw stnaw gninimrednu ot ot ot eht eht eht eht taht .sexat xat xat xat pat gniwols raey-xis .teehs ksir ,eerefer gninokcer ytreporp ssecorp yalp luahrevo no ffo fo txen erom erom .smool tfel kcik daetsni emocni essapmi htworg laudarg gnisucof lanif etanimile stuc dluoc gninoituac yb tub ,skaerb eb ecnalab gnikcab tsniaga .noitartsinimda a a ehT ehT ehT etaneS pmeK esuoH s’aigroeG A .5 .2302

”ytilibadroffa“ ,raey lliw .syaw syaw deklaw retov ,seirotciv lanoitnevnocnu detaler-rednegsnart ot ot ot gnillik-emit rieht eht tset scitcat gnirts sehceeps wohs noisses skcolbdaor larudecorp lacitilop desiop ylralucitrap revo tuo raey-ffo fo fo fo wen wen selcsum erom .erusaem ekam smool ,gnol efil egral ni ni muh-oh evag hserf rof dexelf dnif thgif gniretne gnirud citamard deyolped gninifed ,ecnaifed etabed .nrecnoc detacilpmoc ,sllib .kcab sa sa era ,dna retfa tuoba a a a a a yehT ,snacilbupeR ,woN tsaL esuoH starcomeD starcomeD starcomeD .6

,raey sretirw t’now lliw lliw .dracdliw tahw tahw su litnu ot ot ot siht yeht eht eht eht eht taht llet ,sffirat tegrat ydisbus etats etats .noisses gnidnopser smargorp s’tnediserp elbissop seicilop no fo fo wen wen gnivom sevom sevom naem yam kool ekil level srekamwal tsal wonk s’ti ecnarusni ni ni noitargimmi .emoh ereh htlaeh htlaeh gnidnuf rof laredef laredef laredef yltcaxe snezod srallod noitneted ,stuc stuc stuc raelc erac tegdub tegdub snoillib eb eb ta ta dna dna noitartsinimda a htiW pmurT ,aigroeG ddA .7


Things to know

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens began his second term of office this month. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens began his second term of office this month. (Jason Getz/AJC)

ot eht eht deeccus laiceps .secar yramirp rehto !gninrom ni ronrevog morf morf rof noitcele syad syad yawa yawa dna er’eW er’eW .S.U rolyaT ,etaneS eirojraM eneerG dooG .ssergnoC 75 721

Advertisement

:yadot ot eerht sgniht rehto wonk rof era ereH

  • Former Macon-Bibb Commissioner Seth Clark launched his campaign for lieutenant governor today, making him the second Democrat to enter the race, the AJC’s Maya T. Prabhu reports.
  • The AJC’s Riley Bunch writes about Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ goal of expanding MARTA into Cobb and Gwinnett counties, an ambitious plan that would require reversing half a century of opposition.
  • Georgia is on track to receive about three-quarters of the $1.4 billion in rural health care grants it requested from the federal government, the AJC’s Ariel Hart reports.

Tread lightly

Gerald Pilgrim (front left) told reporters about the restoration process at the House of Representatives in Atlanta last Wednesday. (Arvin Temkar/AJC

Gerald Pilgrim (front left) told reporters about the restoration process at the House of Representatives in Atlanta last Wednesday. (Arvin Temkar/AJC

.keew saw ruot eht sretroper dehsibrufer noitrop yllacitilop fo ylwen tsom ylekil tsal sih evag .teef rebmahc laicifeneb htaeneb a ehT rekaepS noJ esuoH esuoH aigroeG snruB

wolley .dlrow saw ,emit eht eht eht eht eht etats der no fo wen edam nwonk ni ni morf srewolf tsrif gnirutaef semoc teprac teprac teprac latipac dnuorgkcab sa a ehT .aigroeG roF ,notlaD lotipaC

now hcihw ot meht eht eht eht naht fo fo wen tekram si sedulcni ni deretrauqdaeh hsinruf ruof dellortnoc ,seinapmoc .teprac teprac yb dib era dna lla .S.U tahT wahS eroM ,seirtsudnI .aigroeG lotipaC %08

.noisrev deirt ot yeht eht eht eht eht naht ylthgils dias dias suoiverp suoiverp .elbissop fo hctam si evitucexe rotcerid tnereffid ngised ytuped esolc teprac sa sa ,mirgliP eH dlareG aigroeG gnidliuB ,ytirohtuA

Advertisement
The new carpet installed at the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Adam Beam/AJC)

The new carpet installed at the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Adam Beam/AJC)


Ad watch

yadot ot ecalper gnihcnual si ni sih eh remrof tsrif latigid sngiapmac sa da .S.U rolyaT nacilbupeR .peR eirojraM eneerG relluF .ssergnoC yalC

,sreredrum“ aciremA“ tahw ,naretev ”.sguht gniworht eht eht .rotucesorp srotaderp ti mih sthgilhgih wollef ecneirepxe sllac sgarb koob ta sa dna dna na da tuoba etihW deltiT tI esuoH s’relluF ecroF ”,tsriF riA

htiw ohw gniyv .yadot ot ot eht eht laiceps dengiser ecalper gniyfilauq snalp tuo eno fo ynam si si ni rof gniwollof tsrif elif gnillaf noitcele yad setadidnac nac nigeb a .pmurT yadoT tnediserP eH ,eneerG s’aigroeG relluF dlanoD .tcirtsiD lanoissergnoC ht41


Listen up

yllacitiloP“ htiw ew eht eht eht sklat .noisses seitiroirp weiverp laitnetop tsacdop no evitalsigel evitalsigel srekamwal weivretni sessapmi sih reh .slaog rof ecaf dna tuoba tuoba yadoT nehT rekaepS aicirtaP yhpruM noJ esuoH ”aigroeG snruB 6202

ruoy uoy reverehw ot ebircsbus .stsacdop ro netsil teg eerf rof nac dna na uoY yfitopS yllacitiloP ,stsacdoP aigroeG elppA

Advertisement

uoy su su eht ?wohs noitseuq moc.cja@aigroegyllacitilop ro ro no evig erutuf rof derutaef .edosipe dluoc tnemmoc llac eb ta ta dna a a a evaH liamE 7925-018-077


Affordability battle

”ytilibadroffa“ s’raey gnikrow ot siht eht gnihsup egassem otni gnidaeh evah noitcele .elcyc mialc neeb .kcab era snacilbupeR ,woN esuoH aigroeG starcomeD

raey htiw setov yadot siht eht sexat sexat sthgiltops .secnediser gnicuder .setar ytreporp yramirp lacitilop edistuo no fo gnihcnual si ecnarusni gnithgilhgih puorg laog gnitanimile latigid gnittuc ’sucuac ta dna na osla demia detailiffa da a rekaepS nacilbupeR noJ tI esuoH s’aigroeG aigroeG ,erutuF ’snruB ,snruB

sevitavresnoC“ eht syas no rotarran ni eh gnirud gnireviled era ”,ytilibadroffa .da a esuoH aigroeG dnoces-03


Under the Gold Dome

The Capitol in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

The Capitol in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

s’yadot ot eht eht .noisses fo fo evitalsigel :wonk yek si si :sgnineppah tsrif yad setad dna emoS emoS eniS hcraM s’tI eiD yaD revossorC lirpA 3 .2

Advertisement
  • 10 a.m.: House and Senate convene.
  • 2 p.m.: House Health Committee meets to hear presentations from the Northside Cardiovascular Institute and the Children’s Care Network, among other groups.

Health care talks

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., is playing a role in health care discussions in the Senate. (Nathan Posner for the AJC)

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., is playing a role in health care discussions in the Senate. (Nathan Posner for the AJC)

tuohtiw htiw lliw ot eht eht seidisbus ,smuimerp seicilop sessap noitalsigel teg dnetxe gnitanimile .tiderc ,kconraW .S.U .neS leahpaR fI ,.aG-D ssergnoC eraC elbadroffA tcA 0$

tuohtiw keew ot ot yeht rieht eht eht taht taht taht taht taht setats setats srotanes rehto fo gniton ton ton tsom erom egassem edam emocni-wol gnitimil del tsal ecnarusni ni sih evah smrah seilimaf dnapxe dnapxe did did .egarevoc egarevoc strapretnuoc deyevnoc gnillepmoc seugaelloc yb esuaceb tnemugra era dna a kconraW etaneS .snacilbupeR nacilbupeR diacideM diacideM ,esuoH aigroeG 01 0$

krow htiw saw yrt ot ot ot eht eht troppus noitulos troper .ssap tuo no srekamwal tcapmi tsrif hguone snoissucsid nasitrapib sa tuoba a s’kconraW lwobhcnuP sweN

.sraey htiw keew setov ot ot ot ot eerht eht eht eht taht taht seidisbus esahcrup snoisivorp lasoporp margorp dessap ssap rehto ro ton ton .tsoc-on wen emocni-wol -wol .snoitatimil ,noitalsigel gnidael tsal ni ,revewoh evah rof seilimaf noisnetxe dnetxe seod snoissucsid did egarevoc elpuoc dluoc egnahc llib ta na wolla tuoba a a ehT tahT ,etaneS tI esuoH


Today in Washington

  • President Donald Trump meets at the White House with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. He will also meet with Frank Siller, founder and CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
  • The House returns for evening votes.
  • The Senate will take a procedural vote tied to advancing three appropriations bills.

Helene relief

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is running for reelection in 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is running for reelection in 2026. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

lliw nehw etadpu ot feiler revocer hcaer no si pleh morf rof sremraf srallod gniksa devorppa na .S.U .neS yraterceS snilloR ffossO noJ enacirruH eneleH .aigroeG ekoorB erutlucirgA

Advertisement

raey lliw saw ot hguorht eht eht taht naht gnissap slaiciffo fo erom noillim edam elttil llafdnal ni ni ni .tnarg mrof laredef gnimoc kcolb erofeb eb decnuonna dna dna retfa a a a tahT .eessenneT etatS rebmetpeS eneleH ,aigroeG aigroeG adirolF saniloraC 135$

pu kcolnu yadot ot ot ot esoht eht eht llits etats tes tnes margorp gniton ton rettel sti si sah ,dehsinif srallod .snoitacilppa hguohtla tnemeerga tpecca a snilloR ffossO

uoY“ ehT“ htiw gnitiaw eht s’rotanes .dias .ydaer fo ton rettel si evah tnarg rof dezilanif sremraf tub kcolb era dna ydaerla stnemeerga ,ainigriV ”.ADSU etatS htuoS htroN ”,aigroeG aigroeG aigroeG ,adirolF ,aniloraC ,aniloraC


Sad news

tuohtiw lliw .keew saw siht eht reffats .noisses fo fo ,tsiybbol tsal ,tsilanruoj remrof railimaf ecaf evitucexe rotcerid deid eb dna a a ehT ,stropS ytraP eoJ lliH eH aigroeG citarcomeD lotipaC lotipaC .19

dekrow htiw htiw esohw saw naretev eht eht sffats wels selor emuser gnitroper steltuo no fo fo swen evitan .srekamwal dedulcni ni eh remrof remrof rof dna dna dna dna dna dna a a VT-BLAW .S.U .S.U stropS .sneS maS .speR .nnuN sihtaM sirI aigroeG llerbmaG esirpretnE salguoD salguoD noswaD divaD hctilB ymrA gnolA ,ynablA

Advertisement

aigroeG“ ,sraey hcihw naretev eht dehsilbup scitilop ocitilop ,rettelswen tsiybbol retal sti ni ni dednuof lanif yllautneve noitide emaceb derohtua ,dna dna na ehT .rebmevoN ”taeB desab-atnaltA

lliw siht secivres dleh larenuf rof eb ta dna noonretfa noitatisiV stropS tsidohteM tsriF salguoD .hcruhC


Shoutouts

ot eht eht .taht timbus .stuotuohs tuotuohs ton ?rettelswen wen tsuj ,sboj detseretni ni ni ereh mrof rof .cte ,stnemegagne .syadhtrib yadhtrib htrib ,stnemecnuonna osla a a er’eW tnaW s’erehT yllacitiloP s’tI aigroeG kcilC


Before you go

”ylsuoITdepxe“ — htiw erehw tnew erutnev eht .sutats ,wohs tnecer reppar ylno s’royam otni reweivretni weivretni sih rof gnitad ytirbelec nac ysub a a ebuTuoY .I.T royaM nI snekciD atnaltA erdnA

ruoy uoy su .yadot ot ,moc.cja@llehctim.ait dnes ,spoocs moc.cja@yhprum.aicirtap ti redisni ofni ,moc.cja@nietseulb.gerg pissog rof od nac tseb dna dna ,syawla .moc.cja@maeb.mada ll’tahT sA

Advertisement
Greg Bluestein

Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.

Tia Mitchell

Tia Mitchell is the AJC’s Washington Bureau Chief and a co-host of the “Politically Georgia” podcast. She writes about Georgia’s congressional delegation, campaigns, elections and the impact that decisions made in D.C. have on residents of the Peach State.

Patricia  Murphy

Patricia Murphy is the AJC’s senior political columnist. She was previously a nationally syndicated columnist for CQ Roll Call, national political reporter for the Daily Beast and Politics Daily, and wrote for The Washington Post and Garden & Gun. She graduated from Vanderbilt and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Adam Beam

Adam Beam helps write and edit the Politically Georgia morning newsletter.



Source link

Advertisement

Georgia

No. 3 Georgia to Host Top-Ranked Auburn for Regular Season Finale – University of Georgia Athletics

Published

on

No. 3 Georgia to Host Top-Ranked Auburn for Regular Season Finale – University of Georgia Athletics


ATHENS – The third-ranked Georgia equestrian team will host No. 1 Auburn on Saturday at 12 p.m. to conclude the regular season. 
 
Georgia fell at Auburn 14-6 to wrap up the fall slate of their season. The overall record against the Tigers currently stands at 31-31, including a 13-7 record in Bishop.
 
During their National Championship run in the 2024-25 season, the Mane Dawgs faced off against Auburn on three separate occasions. Georgia was victorious at home, 11-9, before falling on the road, 11-8. In the quarterfinals of the NCEA National Championships in Ocala, the Bulldogs stunned the second-ranked Tigers, 13-4, en route to their eighth National Championship title.
 
Georgia returns to action following a trip to Blythewood, South Carolina, to take on the third-ranked Gamecocks. 
 
Top-ranked Auburn travels to Bishop after hosting No. 4 SMU at home the prior weekend. The Tigers defeated the Mustangs 13-7 and swept all four MOP honors.
 
Following the conclusion of the meet, Georgia will honor their seven seniors for their dedication and contributions to the program.

The meet will be streamed on SECN+ at https://gado.gs/e7v, and live scoring will be available at https://gado.gs/e7w.

 

HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

JOIN OUR MANE DAWGS FUND: Mane Dawgs Fund contributions make a direct impact in supporting our student-athletes and equines at the Georgia Equestrian program. A gift to the Mane Dawgs fund helps provide resources such as equipment upgrades for our student and equine athletes, travel assistance, and enhance overall team experiences. Contributions to the Mane Dawgs provide benefits such as membership gifts and information about upcoming special events. Click here for more information.

 

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Georgia

Georgia OC Mike Bobo gets giant pay raise, salary matches DC Glenn Schumann

Published

on

Georgia OC Mike Bobo gets giant pay raise, salary matches DC Glenn Schumann


Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann will be paid equally in 2026 after receiving raises, according to an Athens Banner-Herald report.

Coach Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are coming off a second consecutive SEC championship season and College Football Playoff Sugar Bowl quarterfinal appearance.

lliw ot eht eht ees .nosaes nosaes deviecer yap raey-eno noillim noillim edam tsal esaercni sih eh morf rof noisnetxe tcartnoc dna a oboB 6202 )%64( 2.2$ 305.1$

saw ot tes suoiverp rep ekam ni ni sih ,noisnetxe tcartnoc .yluJ ,oboB 6202 306.1$

Advertisement

.raey htiw ,raey-eerht eht eht taht yldetroper rep evisneffo noillim noillim si ni diap-tsehgih rotanidrooc tcartnoc segareva a sieW CES s’USL .rJ eilrahC 5.7$ 5.2$

hcihw saw pot ot emit driht eht eht eht eht s’noitan ni eh sah seog rof rof tsilanif tsilanif .hcaoc reerac neeb ,drawa tnatsissa a a s’tI selyorB s’oboB oboB .drawA 5202

eerht eht eht gnitrats .sretrats htxis ,gnirocs deknar kcabretrauq stniop rep evisneffo esneffo wen noitan enil ni ni ni ,emag raey-tsrif gnirutaef dniheb gnigareva dna dna na ehT notkcotS CES rennuG ’sgodlluB 1.23 ht82

gnitov rednu siht eht htneves .nosaes ni dehsinif noitcerid yhporT notkcotS namsieH s’oboB

enoz htiw saw deit deit nwod-driht driht eht eht eht gnirocs der yalp egatnecrep egatnecrep egatnecrep fo noitan noitan noitan ni ni ni ni ni .)slaog nwod-htruof rof rof dleif noisrevnoc noisrevnoc ,gnillac tub dna dna ,osla AGU s’oboB dn23 ,02 ht01 )057. snwodhcuot( 51(

Advertisement

lliw pu ot nosaes noillim noillim tsal og morf tcartnoc osla s’nnamuhcS .)%01( 2.2$ 300.2$

ot taht taht gnitrats tes deviecer esiar ylsuoiverp ylsuoiverp noillim ekam ekil dedulcni mih dah dah rotalacse esualc a a ,nnamuhcS yluJ ,oboB .1 301.2$ 000,001$

sdray siht eht eht dnoces gnidne-nosaes ,nosaes gnirocs deknar stniop stniop rep noitan ssol ni ni ni ni ni ,emag retrauq-htruof neve esnefed dna dna gniwolla gniwolla retfa a CES .snaelrO elO weN ssiM aigroeG 374 ,43-93 02 75.71 ht01

.raey htiw ot raey-eerht eht taht taht noitisop rep diap noillim si ni tsehgih evisnefed rotanidrooc tcartnoc hcaoc deveileb eb segareva a lliW ’saxeT pmahcsuM 8.2$



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Georgia

Georgia Lt. Gov. announces bill inspired by Charlie Kirk to protect student speech

Published

on

Georgia Lt. Gov. announces bill inspired by Charlie Kirk to protect student speech


Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones on Monday unveiled legislation inspired by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk that he says would expand students’ free speech rights in public schools, making Georgia the first state in the nation to pursue such a measure.

Jones announced the “True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act,” known as the TPUSA Act, on Monday as a priority for the 2026 legislative session. The proposal, sponsored by State Sen. Ben Watson (R–Savannah), would strengthen First Amendment protections for public school students by safeguarding their right to speak, organize, and express political and religious views on campus.

The bill is explicitly shaped around the work and legacy of Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA and its political arm, Turning Point Action. Jones and others have framed the legislation as a way to honor Kirk’s efforts to mobilize young conservatives and defend free speech in schools and on college campuses.

“In the spirit and memory of Charlie’s work, the TPUSA Act in Georgia would ensure that students’ First Amendment rights to organize, gather and speak are protected, regardless of their religious, political, or social viewpoints,” Jones said in a press release. “Georgia is leading the way as the first state in the nation to do it.”

Advertisement

Founder and President of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk speaks during the Turning Point Believers Summit at the Palm Beach County Civic Center on July 26, 2024. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Miami Herald


Jones, who is running for governor and is endorsed by both former President Donald Trump and Turning Point Action, also emphasized his broader commitment to free speech rights as part of his campaign rhetoric. 

“Georgia is building on the work of Charlie Kirk to ensure students can speak, organize and express their beliefs freely,” Jones posted on social media. 

Advertisement

The TPUSA Act would require public schools in Georgia to permit political expression before, during and after the school day to the same extent that non-political expression is allowed. It also would let students form political clubs and groups during non-instructional time, bar discrimination against groups based on viewpoint, and guarantee that students could wear politically themed clothing and accessories under the same standards that apply to other permitted attire.

Supporters say the legislation would ensure that school administrators cannot block students from engaging in peaceful political activities and that all viewpoints, partisan and nonpartisan, would have equal access to meeting spaces and facilities.

Sen. Watson said the move reflects the belief that schools should not restrict students’ free speech or prohibit them from organizing around their beliefs. 

“School officials should not have the power to enforce their own ideologies on students,” he said.

Josh Thifault, senior director at Turning Point Action, praised Georgia’s effort, asserting that Kirk “lived and died for the First Amendment.” He added that the legislation will benefit students “for decades to come” by removing barriers to student expression.

Advertisement



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending