Bill
SR 553
Establishes a temporary Senate study committee to evaluate how charter schools access capital funding and identify policy options to level differences with traditional public schoo
Status and sponsors
- Bill type: Senate Resolution (SR 553) — Create a study committee
- Introduced: May 20, 2025; Read & adopted May 21, 2025 (see legislative actions)
- Primary sponsors: Senators RaShaun Kemp, Clint Dixon, Sonya Halpern, Elena Parent, Harold Jones II
Purpose and intent
- Establish a temporary Senate study committee to evaluate how locally approved charter schools secure capital funding for facilities and to identify policy options to address disparities between charter schools and traditional public schools. The study focuses on access to capital outlay funds, bond financing, E‑SPLOST, grants, and other financing mechanisms.
Key provisions
- Creation: Establishes the Senate Study Committee on Funding for Charter School Capital Improvements.
- Membership: Five Senate members — three appointed by the President of the Senate and two by the Senate Minority Leader. The President designates the chair.
- Scope of study: Required review and analysis include:
- Existing capital funding mechanisms for public schools and their effect on charter schools.
- Disparities in capital funding between charter and traditional public schools.
- Specific barriers charter schools face accessing E‑SPLOST proceeds, bond financing, capital outlay grants, etc.
- Testimony from charter school leaders, education stakeholders, and financial experts.
- Potential legislative or regulatory policy solutions to improve equitable access to capital funding.
- Meetings: Chair calls meetings, limited to no more than four meetings total. Location/times as determined by the committee.
- Compensation and funding: Members receive allowances per O.C.G.A. § 28‑1‑8; allowances limited to five days unless extended. Committee expenses paid from Senate appropriations.
- Reporting: If the committee adopts findings or recommendations (including proposed legislation), the chair must file a report before the committee’s abolishment. Reports require approval by a majority of a quorum; if no report is approved, the meeting minutes may be filed instead.
- Sunset: The committee is abolished on December 1, 2025.
Who is affected / potential impact
- Direct: State senators serving on the committee and staff supporting it.
- Indirect: Locally approved charter schools across Georgia, traditional public school districts (as points of comparison), state and local education finance entities, and taxpayers.
- Outcome: The resolution creates a fact‑finding body only; it does not change funding or law by itself. Depending on committee findings, it could produce recommendations or draft legislation that, if enacted later, might expand or modify charter school access to capital funding sources (e.g., E‑SPLOST participation, bond mechanisms, grant eligibility).
Procedural notes
- The resolution is a temporary study tool with a compressed timeline (committee must complete work and file reports prior to December 1, 2025). Any policy changes would require subsequent legislation.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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