ATLANTA – Today, House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) joined members of the House as Governor Brian Kemp signed several House education priorities into law that strengthen school security and ensure fairness in girls’ sports.
“Today, the General Assembly affirmed our longstanding and ongoing commitment to the safety, success and well-being of Georgia’s children,” said Speaker Burns. “Our children are our future, and their future begins in our education system. That’s why securing our classrooms, strengthening school safety and increasing access to mental healthcare for our students were top priorities for the House this session, and that’s exactly what HB 268 accomplishes. The House also took a stand to restore common sense and fairness for female athletes by championing the Riley Gaines Act. Thanks to the protections set forth by this legislation, female athletes here in Georgia will never be forced to face a biological male on the court, on the field or in the locker room.”
The Riley Gaines Act, carried in the House by State Representative Josh Bonner (R-Fayetteville), was a 2025 legislative priority for Speaker Burns. It prohibits both males and females from competing on teams designated for the opposite gender and requires changing facilities, restrooms and sleeping quarters to be designated for exclusive use by one gender.
HB 268, sponsored by State Representative Holt Persinger (R-Winder), was a top priority for Speaker Burns. This bill requires schools to implement mobile panic alert systems, requires student records to be transferred within five school business days, provides for a Student Advocacy Specialist grant program to strengthen student mental health resources, requires districts to offer an anonymous reporting platform and increases penalties for threats against Georgia’s schools.
To learn more about these measures, visit https://www.legis.ga.gov/.
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