From classrooms to careers: Georgia laws that passed (and didn’t) in 2025
Georgia lawmakers wrapped up the 2025 legislative session with some big decisions that affect our state’s families, students, and workers.
Several new laws were passed to improve education, job opportunities, and access to childcare — while a few important changes didn’t quite make it through.
“The 2025 session included some key victories to improve public school classrooms, expand school choice options, and improve workforce opportunities,” said Buzz Brockway, vice president of policy for GCO. “While there were some disappointments on bills that didn’t make it across the finish line, we are pleased with the progress lawmakers made this year in promoting an agenda to allow all Georgians to flourish.”
What Passed: New Georgia Laws in 2025
These bills passed out of both the House of Representatives and the Senate and are headed to the governor for signing.
House Bill 340: Less phone distraction, more student engagement
K-8 classrooms now face stricter limits on student cell phone use during school hours. The goal of this policy is to cut down on distractions and help kids stay engaged in the classroom.
Senate Bill 82: More support for charter schools
With this legislation, local boards of education must reconsider denied charter petitions and provide detailed explanations for their decisions. To incentivize approvals, schools receiving charters are eligible for grants of $250,000 a year for three years to help them get started.
House Bill 307 and Senate Bill 93: Helping kids read better
Two bills aimed to boost reading skills among Georgia students. HB 307 updates dyslexia screening and interventions and improves statewide coordination to help at-risk students earlier. SB 93 makes sure future teachers are trained in proven methods to teach reading. State-approved educator preparation programs must align their core curricula with the science of reading—a move that aims to enhance literacy instruction by prioritizing evidence-based methods.
House Bill 136: Bigger tax break for child care
Families can now get a larger credit on their state taxes (up to 40% of the federal tax credit) for expenses related to child and dependent care. By allowing Georgia families to subtract more child care expenses from their annual taxes, this measure eases the financial burden on working families across the states.
House Bill 579: Simplifying licensing for businesses and trades
HB 579 makes it simpler and faster to get professional, business, or trade licenses in Georgia, reducing paperwork, red tape, and other barriers getting in the way of people looking for steady work.
Senate Bill 63: Free college prep tests for homeschoolers
SB 63 mandates that homeschool students in Georgia must have free access to take AP, SAT, and PSAT exams at their local public schools. Improving access to testing for all students helps level the playing field for college readiness.
What Didn’t Pass (But Could Still Come Back)
Despite these successes, some significant bills were left on the table when the legislative session abruptly adjourned early.
Senate Bill 207: Second chance for job-seekers with a criminal record
This measure would have helped people with past criminal records get job licenses more easily. A simpler, fairer process gives returning citizens better opportunities to rejoin the workforce and build stable livelihoods and futures. However, due to legislative discord, the bill didn’t get a final vote.
House Resolution 884: Making Georgia’s welfare programs work better
This proposal sought to create a task force to streamline safety net and workforce development systems in Georgia. It was shelved due to disagreements, but it’s on the radar for next year’s session. Connecting welfare and workforce programs should be an immediate priority because it’s one of Georgia’s best opportunities to remove barriers to work and upward mobility for more people.
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