Rep. Chris Erwin

Maddy summaryHR 711 creates a temporary House Study Committee to examine chronic absenteeism in Georgia's PreK-12 schools, directly affecting school districts and students with high absence rates. The committee will study root causes like health issues, transportation barriers, and school climate, and evaluate best practices to improve attendance. It has no funding or policy provisions but will issue recommendations by December 2025. The committee expires on December 1, 2025, after completing its review. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a bill with direct policy changes.)

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide for appointment of the state school superintendent by the State Board of Education effective not later than January 1, 2031, and other matters relative to the foregoing changes; to provide for the election of members of the State Board of Education for two-year terms by the members of the House of Representatives and Senate whose respective districts are embraced or partly embraced by each congressional district of this state; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-16-1 and Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to qualification requirements for sheriff and exemptions and employment and training of peace officers, respectively, so as to require a person qualifying as a candidate for sheriff be a peace officer not under revocation or suspension by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; to provide for a penalty; to provide for submission of a form completed by the executive director of such council; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-165 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to equalization grants, annual calculations, and allocation, so as to revise the definition of the term "qualified local school system" by reducing the minimum required millage rate or effective millage rate from 14 mills to 10 mills; to provide for a 25 percent reduction of equalization grant awards for local school systems whose millage rate or effective millage rate does not meet the minimum requirement; to require annual reporting by the Department of Education; to repeal a definition; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 17 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sick, personal, and maternity leave for teachers and other school personnel, so as to increase from three to five the number of accumulated sick leave days teachers and other school personnel may take each school year for personal or professional reasons; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-44.2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to base year homestead exemption, so as to postpone the date by which local governing authorities are authorized to opt out of such homestead exemption; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Laurie Erwin for her outstanding dedication and accomplishments in golf, including her remarkable achievement of a hole-in-one, and for her commitment to inspiring the next generation of leaders; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally honors Laura Ray, a fifth-grade teacher from Berrien County who was named Berrien County Teacher of the Year and selected as a top ten finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year for 2026. It does not create new laws or policies, but instead expresses the Georgia House of Representatives' recognition of her teaching achievements and dedication to students. The resolution is purely ceremonial, with no direct impact on education funding, regulations, or any specific group beyond the individual commendation. The House adopted it on March 25, 2025, and will provide a copy to Ms. Ray.

Maddy summaryHR 706 is a symbolic resolution commending Cole Creel, a Georgia resident, for achieving the Eagle Scout rank - the highest honor in the Boy Scouts of America. The resolution highlights his accomplishment as one of only 1 in 97 scouts to reach this level, emphasizing his leadership, adherence to scouting principles, and community commitment. It has no policy impact or financial effect; it simply formally recognizes Creel’s achievement and directs the House Clerk to provide him a copy of the resolution. This is a procedural resolution, not a legislative bill with concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Kenneth Rogers Bridges for his contributions to preserving rural Georgia history through his writing and his career in agricultural education. It formally recognizes his work as an author capturing 1940s rural life, his teaching background, and his service on local educational and agricultural boards. The resolution was adopted by the Georgia House of Representatives on March 21, 2025, and directs the Clerk to provide a copy to Bridges. It has no policy impact beyond ceremonial recognition.