Vice Chair Leverett: substitute to SB552 restores title language and removes literacy provision

At a committee meeting of the 2026 Georgia Legislature, Vice Chair Leverett presented a substitute to Senate Bill 552 that, he said, removes an attached literacy provision and restores the bill’s title language.

Vice Chair Leverett characterized the substitute as “deja vu,” saying the panel was “undoing the changes we did this morning” by removing the literacy language and reinserting the title. He described the substitute as the version that previously passed the House Judiciary Committee earlier in the year.

Chairman Linson asked whether the substitute still allows schools not to be open. Vice Chair Leverett confirmed: “Yes, it does. It still has the language about nothing requires [schools to] be open,” and he added that clarifying provisions preserve schools’ powers over discipline and attendance.

The committee moved and seconded approval of the substitute (LC 49 2 88 2 S). An objection was recorded in the voice vote, but the substitute was approved by majority voice vote and placed on the supplemental calendar.

Why it matters: The substitute clarifies the bill’s scope on school operations and discipline and removes a literacy-related attachment that had been in an earlier version. The committee’s approval moves the substitute forward in the legislative process.

What’s next: The substitute was approved by the committee and noted for the supplemental calendar; the transcript does not record a floor vote.