Georgia Senate bill by Sen. Kennedy passes House and Senate, amends school attendance laws and establishes new requirements for absenteeism policies

Newly passed bill authored by State Sen. John F. Kennedy seeks to amend Georgia’s compulsory school attendance laws by prohibiting expulsion for absenteeism and establishing new requirements for addressing chronic absenteeism in schools, according to the Georgia State Senate.

It passed both chambers as of Tuesday, March 25, clearing the House by a vote of 160-1 and the Senate by a vote of 54-0.

The bill, introduced as SB123 on Thursday, Feb. 6 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Compulsory Attendance; provisions of the state’s compulsory school attendance laws; update and revise’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends Georgia’s compulsory school attendance laws by prohibiting expulsion solely based on absenteeism, and establishes new requirements for student attendance and school climate committees. These committees must convene by Nov. 1, 2025, and meet at least twice annually to address chronic absenteeism and develop reporting protocols by June 1, 2026. It mandates local education boards to implement policies for managing chronic absenteeism, including creating attendance review teams and intervention plans. Additionally, it allows excused absences for military tests and physical exams and calls for updates to statutory language and conforming changes. The bill will be effective July 1, 2025.

In the Senate, 21 Democrats and 33 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the House, 68 Democrats and 92 Republicans voted in favor, while one Democrat voted against it.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Matt Dubnik (Republican-29th), Sen. Lee Anderson (Republican-24th), and Sen. Bill Cowsert (Republican-46th), along with 18 other co-sponsors.

Kennedy graduated from Mercer University in 1987 with a BA and again in 1990 from Mercer University with a JD.

Kennedy, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2015 to represent the state’s 18th Senate District, replacing previous state senator Cecil Staton.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday, April 28.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State Senate. The source data can be found here.