Valdosta, City of; Board of Education; provide compensation

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by James Burchett and 3 co-sponsors

HB 1026 authorizes adjusting Valdosta City Board of Education members' compensation, including who sets it and how it changes, effective upon signing.

Effective Date

Bill Summary: HB 1026 (Session 2025-26, Georgia)

Purpose and Intent

HB 1026 is a bill affecting the City of Valdosta, specifically relating to compensation for members of the city’s Board of Education. The measure authorizes or directs changes to compensation for board members, thereby addressing may be compensation levels, compensation types, or related payment considerations for those serving on the Valdosta City Board of Education. The overarching aim is to establish or adjust financial compensation to reflect responsibilities of board service.

Key Provisions and Changes

Compensation for Board of Education Members: The bill provides for (or adjusts) compensation for the members of the Valdosta City Board of Education. While the exact dollar amounts or schedule are not specified in the summary, the act transfers authority to set or modify compensation to the appropriate municipal or state-level body as defined by the bill.

Authority and Process: The bill designates who has the authority to establish, modify, or approve the compensation, and outlines any procedural steps (such as publication, votes or timelines) required to implement changes.

Effective Date: The act becomes effective upon signing, with any specific transition provisions or retroactivity if stated in the full text.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Valdosta City Board of Education Members: Primary beneficiaries or subjects of the compensation changes. Depending on the bill’s text, this could include salary increases, stipends, expense allowances, or other per diem payments.

Valdosta City Government and Taxpayers: Municipal government administration and budgetary planning may need to accommodate changes in board compensation, with potential implications for annual budgets and line-item appropriations.

Students and Community: Indirectly affected through governance structures; compensation changes could influence board member recruitment, retention, meeting attendance, and focus on educational outcomes.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Legislative Path: The bill progressed through:

House Hopper (introductory stage) on 2026-01-27
House First and Second Readers (late January 2026)
House Third Readings and Passed (early February 2026)
Senate Read and Referred (Feb 9, 2026)
Senate Committee Favorably Reported and Senate Passed/Adopted (Feb 17, 2026)
House Sent to Governor (Apr 6, 2026)
Governor signed; Act 533 (May 11, 2026)
Effective immediately upon signing per act designation, unless otherwise stated in the text

Governor’s Action: The bill was signed into law by the Governor on May 11, 2026, becoming Act 533.

Effective Date: As an Act, it generally becomes effective upon signing unless specified otherwise in the legislation.

Practical Notes

The summary reflects the bill’s core change: establishing or adjusting compensation for Valdosta City Board of Education members.

Details such as exact compensation amounts, biannual adjustments, caps, or alignment with other local boards would require the full text or fiscal note to interpret precisely.

Local fiscal impact will depend on annual budget cycles and any associated benefits or post-employment considerations.

If you’d like, I can extract the exact compensation scheme (amounts, schedule, and eligibility) from the bill text or provide a comparison to prior compensation levels.