The Georgia House of Representatives has approved a set of early literacy and education bills, including the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026. Lawmakers say these measures aim to improve educational opportunities for children across the state.
House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) commented on the passage, stating, “Today, the Georgia House reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to ensuring every child in Georgia has an opportunity to learn, dream and create a better, brighter future for themselves. These bills represent a historic step forward for strengthening early literacy and improving outcomes for Georgia’s students in the classroom and beyond.”
The legislative package includes several bills: HB 310 (Student Teacher Promotion Act), HB 372 (Retired Teacher Recruitment), HB 385 (Expands Access to HOPE), HB 971 (Strengthens Access to College and Career Academies), HB 1009 (Removes Cell Phones from Georgia Classrooms), HB 1193 (Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026), HB 1023 (Requires Public Schools to Use Weapons Detection Systems), and HB 1123 (Increases Access to After-school Care).
Jon Burns, who was elected as a Republican representative in 2005 for Georgia’s 159th House District, succeeded Ray Holland.
Further information about the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 and other education priorities is available online.