Committee backs bill letting students complete financial‑literacy requirement in 9th or 10th grade

The House Committee on Education voted to recommend HB1114, a bill to establish minimum content standards for financial literacy instruction and to allow students to complete the high‑school financial literacy requirement in grades 9 or 10.

The sponsor (introduced by the chair as Representative Yerta) said the change aligns Georgia with other states and gives students earlier access to budgeting, saving and risk awareness, including instruction on gambling risks. "This bill allows financial literacy to be taught in the ninth and tenth grade," the sponsor said, adding that earlier instruction can ease crowded junior and senior schedules and support AP, CTA and dual‑enrollment pathways.

Committee members who identified themselves as financial educators praised the proposal and moved for a do‑pass recommendation. Representative Harris noted that the substitute even contemplates inclusion of grades K–8 in other sections and welcomed that expansion.

The committee recorded a do‑pass recommendation and the bill will be forwarded for further consideration under committee rules.