HB 538 — Georgia Early Literacy Act; enact
Last action — Effective Date
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 22, 2023. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Brian Kemp (Republican) on April 13, 2023.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
Likely to advance
98% · high confidence
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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6 sponsors
6 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (4 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 3 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for the "Georgia Early Literacy Act"; to require the State Board of Education to approve high-quality instructional materials to be used for teaching students in kindergarten through third grade; to provide for definitions; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Bill Text
We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.
Read HB 538 on the official Georgia source →Action History
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Effective Date
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Act 9
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House Date Signed by Governor
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House Sent to Governor
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House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
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Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
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Senate Third Read
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Senate Taken from Table
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Senate Tabled
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Senate Read Second Time
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Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
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Senate Read and Referred
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House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
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House Third Readers
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House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
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House Second Readers
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House First Readers
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House Hopper
Sponsors
- Bethany Ballard · Primary
- Will Wade · Primary
- Chris Erwin · Primary
- Jan Jones · Primary
- Carl Gilliard · Primary
- Stacey Evans · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →6 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 241 not signed on
Sponsors (6)
- Bethany Ballard Republican
- Will Wade Republican
- Chris Erwin Republican
- Jan Jones Republican
- Carl Gilliard Democrat
- Stacey Evans Democrat
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (241)
241 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 241 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Whip count is in markup.
Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session.
Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this.
Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing
Votes
Passed
164 Yea
·
0 Nay
·
16 Other
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 55 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unaffiliated | 35 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Republican | 74 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Total | 164 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| % of votes cast | 91% | 0% | 0% | 9% |
How each member voted (180)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| ANDERSON | — | Yea |
| ANULEWICZ | — | Yea |
| BEVERLY | — | Not Voting |
| BRUCE | — | Yea |
| CAMPBELL | — | Yea |
| CAMPBELL | — | Yea |
| CANNON | — | Not Voting |
| CANNON | — | Yea |
| CLARK | — | Yea |
| CLARK | — | Not Voting |
| COLLINS | — | Yea |
| DANIEL | — | Yea |
| FRAZIER | — | Yea |
| HOUSTON | — | Yea |
| JONES | — | Yea |
| JONES | — | Yea |
| JONES | — | Yea |
| KENNARD | — | Yea |
| KNIGHT | — | Yea |
| LOTT | — | Yea |
| MAINOR | — | Yea |
| MARIN | — | Yea |
| MOORE | — | Yea |
| MUGHAL | — | Yea |
| VACANT | — | Not Voting |
| PIRKLE | — | Yea |
| RIDLEY | — | Yea |
| RIDLEY | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| STONER | — | Yea |
| TAYLOR | — | Yea |
| TAYLOR | — | Yea |
| THOMAS | — | Yea |
| THOMAS | — | Yea |
| VANCE | — | Yea |
| Anne Allen Westbrook | Democrat | Yea |
| Betsy Holland | Democrat | Yea |
| Billy Mitchell | Democrat | Yea |
| Brian Prince | Democrat | Yea |
| Carl Gilliard | Democrat | Yea |
| Carolyn Hugley | Democrat | Yea |
| Dar'shun Kendrick | Democrat | Yea |
| David Sampson | Democrat | Yea |
| David Wilkerson | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Debbie Buckner | Democrat | Yea |
| Debra Bazemore | Democrat | Yea |
| Demetrius Douglas | Democrat | Yea |
| Dewey McClain | Democrat | Yea |
| Dexter Sharper | Democrat | Yea |
| Doreen Carter | Democrat | Yea |
| El-Mahdi Holly | Democrat | Yea |
| Eric Bell | Democrat | Yea |
| Esther Panitch | Democrat | Yea |
| Gabe Okoye | Democrat | Yea |
| Imani Barnes | Democrat | Yea |
| Inga Willis | Democrat | Yea |
| Karen Bennett | Democrat | Yea |
| Karen Lupton | Democrat | Yea |
| Karla Drenner | Democrat | Yea |
| Karlton Howard | Democrat | Yea |
| Kim Jackson | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Kim Jackson | Democrat | Yea |
| Kim Schofield | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Kimberly Alexander | Democrat | Yea |
| Long Tran | Democrat | Yea |
| Lydia Glaize | Democrat | Yea |
| Lynn Heffner | Democrat | Yea |
| Marvin Lim | Democrat | Yea |
| Mary Oliver | Democrat | Yea |
| Michelle Au | Democrat | Yea |
| Miriam Paris | Democrat | Yea |
| Omari Crawford | Democrat | Yea |
| Patty Marie Stinson | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Phil Olaleye | Democrat | Yea |
| Regina Lewis-Ward | Democrat | Yea |
| Rhonda Burnough | Democrat | Yea |
| Ruwa Romman | Democrat | Yea |
| Saira Draper | Democrat | Yea |
| Sam Park | Democrat | Yea |
| Sandra Scott | Democrat | Yea |
| Scott Holcomb | Democrat | Yea |
| Segun Adeyina | Democrat | Yea |
| Sharon Henderson | Democrat | Yea |
| Shea Roberts | Democrat | Yea |
| Shelly Hutchinson | Democrat | Yea |
| Solomon Adesanya | Democrat | Yea |
| Spencer Frye | Democrat | Yea |
| Stacey Evans | Democrat | Yea |
| Stacey Evans | Democrat | Yea |
| Tanya Miller | Democrat | Yea |
| Terry Cummings | Democrat | Yea |
| Tremaine Reese | Democrat | Yea |
| Viola Davis | Democrat | Yea |
| Yasmin Neal | Democrat | Yea |
| Alan Powell | Republican | Yea |
| Beth Camp | Republican | Yea |
| Bethany Ballard | Republican | Yea |
| Bill Hitchens | Republican | Yea |
| Bill Werkheiser | Republican | Not Voting |
| Bill Yearta | Republican | Yea |
| Bo Hatchett | Republican | Not Voting |
| Brent Cox | Republican | Yea |
| Bruce Williamson | Republican | Not Voting |
| Buddy DeLoach | Republican | Yea |
| Butch Parrish | Republican | Yea |
| Carter Barrett | Republican | Yea |
| Charles Martin | Republican | Yea |
| Charlice Byrd | Republican | Yea |
| Chris Erwin | Republican | Yea |
| Chuck Efstration | Republican | Yea |
| Clint Crowe | Republican | Yea |
| Dale Washburn | Republican | Not Voting |
| Danny Mathis | Republican | Yea |
| David Huddleston | Republican | Yea |
| David Jenkins | Republican | Yea |
| Deborah Silcox | Republican | Yea |
| Derrick McCollum | Republican | Yea |
| Devan Seabaugh | Republican | Yea |
| Don Parsons | Republican | Yea |
| Eddie Lumsden | Republican | Yea |
| Emory Dunahoo | Republican | Yea |
| Gerald Greene | Republican | Yea |
| Ginny Ehrhart | Republican | Yea |
| Holt Persinger | Republican | Yea |
| Houston Gaines | Republican | Yea |
| James Burchett | Republican | Not Voting |
| Jesse Petrea | Republican | Yea |
| John Carson | Republican | Yea |
| John Corbett | Republican | Yea |
| John LaHood | Republican | Yea |
| Johnny Chastain | Republican | Yea |
| Joseph Gullett | Republican | Yea |
| Josh Bonner | Republican | Yea |
| Karen Mathiak | Republican | Yea |
| Kasey Carpenter | Republican | Yea |
| Katie Dempsey | Republican | Yea |
| Kimberly New | Republican | Yea |
| Lauren McDonald III | Republican | Yea |
| Lee Hawkins | Republican | Yea |
| Leesa Hagan | Republican | Yea |
| Lehman Franklin | Republican | Yea |
| Mandi Ballinger | Republican | Yea |
| Marcus Wiedower | Republican | Yea |
| Mark Newton | Republican | Yea |
| Martin Momtahan | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Barton | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Dubnik | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Reeves | Republican | Yea |
| Matthew Gambill | Republican | Yea |
| Max Burns | Republican | Not Voting |
| Mike Cameron | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Cheokas | Republican | Yea |
| Mitchell Horner | Republican | Yea |
| Mitchell Scoggins | Republican | Yea |
| Noel Williams, Jr. | Republican | Yea |
| Reynaldo Martinez | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Jasperse | Republican | Not Voting |
| Rick Townsend | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Rob Leverett | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Dickey | Republican | Yea |
| Ron Stephens | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Hilton | Republican | Yea |
| Sharon Cooper | Republican | Yea |
| Shaw Blackmon | Republican | Yea |
| Soo Hong | Republican | Yea |
| Stan Gunter | Republican | Yea |
| Steve Tarvin | Republican | Yea |
| Steven Meeks | Republican | Not Voting |
| Steven Sainz | Republican | Yea |
| Tim Fleming | Republican | Yea |
| Tim Fleming | Republican | Yea |
| Trey Kelley | Republican | Yea |
| Trey Rhodes | Republican | Yea |
| Will Wade | Republican | Yea |
Passed
48 Yea
·
1 Nay
·
7 Other
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 26 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Unaffiliated | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Democrat | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 48 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| % of votes cast | 86% | 2% | 0% | 13% |
How each member voted (56)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| ANDERSON | — | Yea |
| ANDERSON | — | Yea |
| BUTLER | — | Yea |
| DUGAN | — | Yea |
| JONES | — | Yea |
| MOORE | — | Nay |
| SEAY | — | Not Voting |
| TATE | — | Not Voting |
| WATSON | — | Yea |
| WATSON | — | Yea |
| ISLAM PARKES | — | Yea |
| David Lucas | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Derek Mallow | Democrat | Yea |
| Donzella James | Democrat | Yea |
| Ed Harbison | Democrat | Yea |
| Elena Parent | Democrat | Yea |
| Freddie Powell Sims | Democrat | Yea |
| Gail Davenport | Democrat | Yea |
| Harold Jones II | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Jason Esteves | Democrat | Yea |
| Josh McLaurin | Democrat | Yea |
| Kim Jackson | Democrat | Yea |
| Michael 'Doc' Rhett | Democrat | Yea |
| Nan Orrock | Democrat | Yea |
| Nikki Merritt | Democrat | Yea |
| Sally Harrell | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Sheikh Rahman | Democrat | Yea |
| Sonya Halpern | Democrat | Yea |
| Bill Cowsert | Republican | Yea |
| Billy Hickman | Republican | Yea |
| Blake Tillery | Republican | Yea |
| Bo Hatchett | Republican | Not Voting |
| Brandon Beach | Republican | Yea |
| Brian Strickland | Republican | Yea |
| Carden Summers | Republican | Yea |
| Chuck Hufstetler | Republican | Yea |
| Chuck Payne | Republican | Yea |
| Clint Dixon | Republican | Yea |
| Drew Echols | Republican | Yea |
| Ed Setzler | Republican | Yea |
| Frank Ginn | Republican | Yea |
| Greg Dolezal | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Anavitarte | Republican | Yea |
| John Albers | Republican | Yea |
| John F. Kennedy | Republican | Yea |
| Kay Kirkpatrick | Republican | Yea |
| Larry Walker, III | Republican | Yea |
| Marty Harbin | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Brass | Republican | Yea |
| Max Burns | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Hodges | Republican | Yea |
| Randy Robertson | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Russ Goodman | Republican | Yea |
| Shawn Still | Republican | Not Voting |
| Steve Gooch | Republican | Yea |
Passed
174 Yea
·
0 Nay
·
6 Other
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 57 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 36 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Republican | 81 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 174 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| % of votes cast | 97% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (180)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| ANDERSON | — | Yea |
| ANULEWICZ | — | Yea |
| BEVERLY | — | Yea |
| BRUCE | — | Yea |
| CAMPBELL | — | Yea |
| CAMPBELL | — | Yea |
| CANNON | — | Yea |
| CANNON | — | Yea |
| CLARK | — | Yea |
| CLARK | — | Yea |
| COLLINS | — | Yea |
| DANIEL | — | Not Voting |
| FRAZIER | — | Yea |
| VACANT | — | Not Voting |
| HOUSTON | — | Yea |
| JONES | — | Yea |
| JONES | — | Yea |
| JONES | — | Yea |
| KENNARD | — | Yea |
| KNIGHT | — | Yea |
| LOTT | — | Yea |
| MAINOR | — | Yea |
| MARIN | — | Not Voting |
| MOORE | — | Yea |
| MUGHAL | — | Yea |
| NAGHISE | — | Not Voting |
| PIRKLE | — | Yea |
| RIDLEY | — | Yea |
| RIDLEY | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| SMITH | — | Yea |
| STONER | — | Yea |
| TAYLOR | — | Yea |
| TAYLOR | — | Yea |
| THOMAS | — | Yea |
| THOMAS | — | Yea |
| VANCE | — | Yea |
| Anne Allen Westbrook | Democrat | Yea |
| Betsy Holland | Democrat | Yea |
| Billy Mitchell | Democrat | Yea |
| Brian Prince | Democrat | Yea |
| Carl Gilliard | Democrat | Yea |
| Carolyn Hugley | Democrat | Yea |
| Dar'shun Kendrick | Democrat | Yea |
| David Sampson | Democrat | Yea |
| David Wilkerson | Democrat | Yea |
| Debbie Buckner | Democrat | Yea |
| Debra Bazemore | Democrat | Yea |
| Demetrius Douglas | Democrat | Yea |
| Dewey McClain | Democrat | Yea |
| Dexter Sharper | Democrat | Yea |
| Doreen Carter | Democrat | Yea |
| El-Mahdi Holly | Democrat | Yea |
| Esther Panitch | Democrat | Yea |
| Gabe Okoye | Democrat | Yea |
| Imani Barnes | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Inga Willis | Democrat | Yea |
| Karen Bennett | Democrat | Yea |
| Karen Lupton | Democrat | Yea |
| Karla Drenner | Democrat | Yea |
| Karlton Howard | Democrat | Yea |
| Kim Jackson | Democrat | Yea |
| Kim Jackson | Democrat | Yea |
| Kim Schofield | Democrat | Yea |
| Kimberly Alexander | Democrat | Yea |
| Long Tran | Democrat | Yea |
| Lydia Glaize | Democrat | Yea |
| Lynn Heffner | Democrat | Yea |
| Marvin Lim | Democrat | Yea |
| Mary Oliver | Democrat | Yea |
| Michelle Au | Democrat | Yea |
| Miriam Paris | Democrat | Yea |
| Omari Crawford | Democrat | Yea |
| Patty Marie Stinson | Democrat | Yea |
| Phil Olaleye | Democrat | Yea |
| Regina Lewis-Ward | Democrat | Yea |
| Rhonda Burnough | Democrat | Yea |
| Ruwa Romman | Democrat | Yea |
| Saira Draper | Democrat | Yea |
| Sam Park | Democrat | Yea |
| Sandra Scott | Democrat | Yea |
| Scott Holcomb | Democrat | Yea |
| Segun Adeyina | Democrat | Yea |
| Sharon Henderson | Democrat | Yea |
| Shea Roberts | Democrat | Yea |
| Shelly Hutchinson | Democrat | Yea |
| Solomon Adesanya | Democrat | Yea |
| Spencer Frye | Democrat | Yea |
| Stacey Evans | Democrat | Yea |
| Stacey Evans | Democrat | Yea |
| Tanya Miller | Democrat | Yea |
| Terry Cummings | Democrat | Yea |
| Tremaine Reese | Democrat | Yea |
| Viola Davis | Democrat | Yea |
| Yasmin Neal | Democrat | Yea |
| Alan Powell | Republican | Yea |
| Beth Camp | Republican | Yea |
| Bethany Ballard | Republican | Yea |
| Bill Hitchens | Republican | Yea |
| Bill Werkheiser | Republican | Yea |
| Bill Yearta | Republican | Yea |
| Bo Hatchett | Republican | Yea |
| Brent Cox | Republican | Yea |
| Bruce Williamson | Republican | Yea |
| Buddy DeLoach | Republican | Yea |
| Butch Parrish | Republican | Yea |
| Carter Barrett | Republican | Yea |
| Charles Martin | Republican | Yea |
| Charlice Byrd | Republican | Yea |
| Chris Erwin | Republican | Yea |
| Chuck Efstration | Republican | Yea |
| Clint Crowe | Republican | Yea |
| Dale Washburn | Republican | Yea |
| Danny Mathis | Republican | Yea |
| David Huddleston | Republican | Yea |
| David Jenkins | Republican | Yea |
| Deborah Silcox | Republican | Yea |
| Derrick McCollum | Republican | Yea |
| Devan Seabaugh | Republican | Yea |
| Don Parsons | Republican | Yea |
| Eddie Lumsden | Republican | Yea |
| Emory Dunahoo | Republican | Yea |
| Gerald Greene | Republican | Yea |
| Ginny Ehrhart | Republican | Yea |
| Holt Persinger | Republican | Yea |
| Houston Gaines | Republican | Yea |
| James Burchett | Republican | Yea |
| Jesse Petrea | Republican | Yea |
| John Carson | Republican | Yea |
| John Corbett | Republican | Yea |
| John LaHood | Republican | Yea |
| Johnny Chastain | Republican | Yea |
| Joseph Gullett | Republican | Yea |
| Josh Bonner | Republican | Yea |
| Karen Mathiak | Republican | Yea |
| Kasey Carpenter | Republican | Yea |
| Katie Dempsey | Republican | Yea |
| Kimberly New | Republican | Yea |
| Lauren McDonald III | Republican | Yea |
| Lee Hawkins | Republican | Yea |
| Leesa Hagan | Republican | Yea |
| Lehman Franklin | Republican | Yea |
| Mandi Ballinger | Republican | Yea |
| Marcus Wiedower | Republican | Yea |
| Mark Newton | Republican | Yea |
| Martin Momtahan | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Barton | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Dubnik | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Reeves | Republican | Yea |
| Matthew Gambill | Republican | Yea |
| Max Burns | Republican | Not Voting |
| Mike Cameron | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Cheokas | Republican | Yea |
| Mitchell Horner | Republican | Yea |
| Mitchell Scoggins | Republican | Yea |
| Noel Williams, Jr. | Republican | Yea |
| Reynaldo Martinez | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Jasperse | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Townsend | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Rob Leverett | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Dickey | Republican | Yea |
| Ron Stephens | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Hilton | Republican | Yea |
| Sharon Cooper | Republican | Yea |
| Shaw Blackmon | Republican | Yea |
| Soo Hong | Republican | Yea |
| Stan Gunter | Republican | Yea |
| Steve Tarvin | Republican | Yea |
| Steven Meeks | Republican | Yea |
| Steven Sainz | Republican | Yea |
| Tim Fleming | Republican | Yea |
| Tim Fleming | Republican | Yea |
| Trey Kelley | Republican | Yea |
| Trey Rhodes | Republican | Yea |
| Will Wade | Republican | Yea |
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Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 538 do?
- A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for the "Georgia Early Literacy Act"; to require the State Board of Education to approve high-quality instructional materials to be used for teaching students in kindergarten through third grade; to provide for definitions; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
- Who sponsors HB 538?
- HB 538 is sponsored by Bethany Ballard (Republican), Will Wade (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican), Jan Jones (Republican), Carl Gilliard (Democrat), and Stacey Evans (Democrat).
- What is the current status of HB 538?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 22, 2023. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 538?
- Track HB 538 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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