Georgia House bill by Rep. Corbett to expand school capital funding, set new playground standards passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Rep. John Corbett seeks to raise Georgia’s annual school capital outlay funding limit and establish new accessibility standards for elementary school playgrounds, following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Friday, April 4, clearing the House by a vote of 168-3 and the Senate by a vote of 50-4.

The bill, introduced as HB371 on Monday, Feb. 10 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Quality Basic Education Act; state’s maximum authorization of capital outlay funding; provide for an increase’.

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

In essence, this bill amends the “Quality Basic Education Act” to increase Georgia’s maximum annual authorization for capital outlay funding from $300 million to $375 million. It outlines new standards for playgrounds in elementary schools constructed on or after July 1, 2027, requiring sensory-diverse environments that support physical, social, and emotional development for children of all abilities. The playgrounds must be accessible, include shaded areas, and have unitary surfacing covering at least 80% of the area. The facilities should provide opportunities for inclusive play, with features such as communication boards, adaptive swings, and wheelchair-accessible slides. The bill becomes effective on July 1, 2025.

In the House, 73 Democrats and 95 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while three Republicans opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 21 Democrats and 29 Republicans voted in favor, while one Democrat and three Republicans voted against it.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Matt Dubnik (Republican-29th), Rep. Chris Erwin (Republican-32nd), and Rep. Gerald Greene (Republican-154th), along with two other co-sponsors.

Corbett, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2015 to represent the state’s 174th House District, replacing previous state representative C. Ellis Black.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday, May 9.

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 House. The source data can be found here.