Doctor proposes online‑safety bill requiring DOE guidance, annual evaluation

Dr. Arlene Beckles told the education committee that HB829 would strengthen online safety and transparency by directing the Department of Education to publish guidance on parental controls, content filters and secure browsing tools and to perform an annual evaluation of digital‑safety efforts.

"This legislation supports parents by giving them transparency and access to meaningful resources," Dr. Beckles said when she introduced LC590134. She also said the bill would use data from the attorney general's enforcement reports to help the Department assess digital‑safety instruction and report findings to state leadership.

A committee member said she was "happy to vote for it to keep moving it" but relayed that the attorney general's office had indicated a potential fiscal impact if DOE must perform the specified report and suggested a consultation among the sponsor, DOE and the AG's office to refine language and workload expectations. The sponsor acknowledged that discussion and welcomed further technical conversations.

The committee approved a do‑pass recommendation and the bill will advance for further consideration under committee rules.