SB 425 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Education; all schools that receive state funding with students in any of grades three through five to provide instruction in cursive handwriting to all students by no later than third grade; require

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum, so as to require all schools that receive state funding with students in any of grades three through five to provide instruction in cursive handwriting to all students by no later than third grade; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed Senate → LC 61 0497S/hss · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope beyond cursive handwriting instruction to include additional education and safety requirements. The original version focused solely on cursive instruction for grades 3-5, while the amended version adds provisions for removing licensed physician requirements from AED programs, introducing bleeding control kit training, and establishing protections for employees who experience workplace violence from students or parents.

Scope change

Expanded from cursive handwriting instruction only to include AED program modifications, bleeding control kit training, and employee protection policies for workplace violence

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for bleeding control kit instruction and procedures alongside existing cursive handwriting instruction requirements

Removed the requirement for licensed physicians in automated external defibrillator programs

Added new protections allowing employees who are victims of student or parent physical violence to transfer to similar positions in other schools

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for bleeding control kit, emergency action plan, and internal response team

SCOPE

Changed bill title from amending competencies and core curriculum to amending Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated relating to education broadly

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

38–7

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 48

Mar 4, 2026

D Democratic19

13 Yea 4 Nay 2

68% Yea

R Republican29

25 Yea 3 Nay 1

86% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced

Senate Hopper

upper

9 primary · 0 co-sponsors