House passes school "equal access" bill after heated debate over TPUSA language

The Georgia House approved Senate Bill 552 on March 31, 2026, sending to law a measure modeled on the federal Equal Access Act that requires public schools to treat student and outside groups alike when they maintain a limited open forum.

Representative Rob Leverett, the bill’s floor sponsor, told colleagues the measure largely mirrors existing federal protections but adds clarifying definitions and limited exceptions for school safety and attendance enforcement. “This is largely based on existing federal law,” Leverett said, and the committee added clarifications so schools could maintain order and discipline while remaining viewpoint neutral.

Opponents accused the bill of carrying partisan baggage. Representative Jasmine Clark said the measure’s title and a short portion of its text tied it to Turning Point USA and its founder, fueling mistrust. “Calling it the True Patriotism and Universal Student Access Act is a bit disingenuous,” Clark said, arguing that the bill’s acronym, TP USA, and a two‑line reference in the text make it appear to uplift a specific organization and viewpoint rather than remain neutral.

Representative Barry, who led a minority opposition, echoed concerns that the bill’s language elevates a single organization and said the sponsor had declined to remove the wording in rules. “This is an homage to a particular organization, Turning Point USA,” Barry said, calling the inclusion unnecessary and partisan.

Supporters rejected the partisan framing and pointed to outside endorsements and committee work. Leverett noted that the bill’s approach is supported by both the Baptist Association and the American Civil Liberties Union in committee and that the Rules substitute removed some earlier text. “I feel like it should be doing something right,” he said, urging colleagues to pass language that simply requires nondiscriminatory enforcement of meeting policies.

Several members asked practical questions about the bill’s scope: whether it would override local attendance policies, whether non‑student groups require student sponsors, and how schools should handle disruptions. Leverett said schools retain authority to enforce attendance and limit conduct that would reasonably forecast a substantial disruption, while the bill requires fair application of sponsor or sponsorship rules if a school chooses to require them.

After extended debate and a minority report, the House adopted the Rules substitute and voted to pass SB 552. The clerk announced the vote as yeas 95, nays 68; the bill received the requisite constitutional majority and was passed.

Next steps: According to the floor action, the measure is to be enrolled for transmission to the Senate/signer as part of the final legislative process.