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HB 706

Change to Needs-Based Capital Funding.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Eric Ager and 13 co-sponsors

Georgia HB 706 would require local boards to offer a semester course for grades 9–12 on founding philosophy/principles and mandate a one-period per school addressing the history of

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · HB 706

Summary — HB 706 (LC 49 2312/a)

Note on materials provided: The package you supplied contains multiple different drafts and versions labeled “HB 706” from different jurisdictions (including Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, and Illinois) on unrelated topics (K‑12 curriculum, skateboard helmets, health education, pension code amendments). The principal version labeled LC 49 2312/a is a Georgia bill amending the Quality Basic Education Act. This summary focuses on that Georgia draft. If you intended a different HB 706 (for example, a Medicaid/ACA expansion bill referenced in your header), please confirm which jurisdiction/version you want summarized.

Purpose

The Georgia draft (LC 49 2312/a) would amend Article 6 of Chapter 2, Title 20 (the Quality Basic Education Act) to (1) revise the required coursework on the founding philosophy and principles of the United States, and (2) require schools to conduct educational programs and activities addressing the history of Black Americans — including both struggles and contributions — at least one class period per school.

Key provisions

  • Amend Code Section 20-2-142.1 (competencies and core curriculum):
    • Allows local boards to require a separate semester course (grades 9–12) on founding philosophy and principles of the United States.
    • Specifies required course topics, including:
    • Founding philosophy (Declaration of Independence, unalienable rights, limited government, separation of powers, rule of law, elections).
    • Founding principles (freedoms in the Bill of Rights; private property; habeas corpus; due process; jury trial; economic principles; right to bear arms; federalism; foreign policy principles; founding documents like the Federalist Papers).
    • Transformational movements: antislavery movement, Civil Rights movement, women’s suffrage, contributions of immigrants, Native American history, and explicitly “the history of Black Americans, including both the struggles and the triumphs … and the contributions of Black Americans to American society.”
    • Changes the effective school year for application from 2017–2018 to 2025–2026.
  • Add/Revise Code Section 20-2-308:
    • Requires each local education agency to require each school to conduct educational programs and activities equal to at least one class period addressing the history of Black Americans (struggles, triumphs, contributions).
    • Encourages focusing these programs during February (Black History Month).
  • General repeal clause: repeals conflicting laws.

Who would be affected

  • Students: All public school students in Georgia (course requirement pertains to grades 9–12 if adopted by local boards; the one‑period program requirement applies to each school).
  • Local school boards and school districts: authority to require the semester course; responsibility to schedule and implement the one‑period program.
  • Schools and teachers: curriculum development, lesson planning, possible professional development.
  • State education administrators: oversight and potential guidance materials; no explicit appropriations or funding in the draft.

Implementation & timeline

  • The draft sets the applicability to the 2025–2026 school year.
  • The bill text provided includes sponsor names (Rep. Solomon Adesanya, Rep. Mekyah McQueen, Rep. Phil Olaleye, Rep. Robert Dawson, Rep. Park Cannon) and a noted effective school year change.
  • Status per the metadata you supplied: "Died In Committee." That indicates the measure did not advance, but because the materials in your packet include multiple jurisdictional actions, you should verify the bill number and state and consult official legislative records for the final disposition.

Practical considerations / potential impacts

  • Curriculum changes may require teacher training, instructional materials, and scheduling adjustments. No funding or appropriation is specified in the text.
  • Local boards retain discretion to require the semester course; the one‑period requirement for Black American history is mandatory for each school under local education agency policy.
  • Encouraging—but not mandating—emphasis during February could shape how schools schedule content.

If you want a concise summary of any of the other HB 706 drafts included in the packet (Hawaii helmet bill, Kentucky health education, Illinois pension technical change, or the Medicaid/ACA expansion referenced at the top), tell me which state/version and I will prepare a separate, focused summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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