With Sine Die in the rearview mirror, we at GEEARS are reflecting upon our state legislature’s 2026 session. An ongoing focus on early literacy and the introduction of the Families First Legislative Initiative by House leadership were indicators that the needs of families with young children were high on our elected officials’ priority lists as they cast their votes.
We were happy to see progress in three areas: Paid Parental Leave, Home Visiting, and Georgia’s Pre-K. We highlight some of these wins below, with a caveat that the Governor has 40 days to sign or veto bills, including the budget.
Paid Parental Leave
HB 1118 provides an additional three weeks of paid maternity leave for state employees, including public Pre-K-12 educators. State employees currently receive six weeks of paid parental leave.
Georgia’s Pre-K
The final version of the budget included $9.7M in Lottery funds to support CAPS scholarships for before- and after-school care for eligible children enrolled in Georgia’s Pre-K program. While Lottery funds generally cannot be used for CAPS, this approach will allow other funds to be redirected to better serve CAPS-eligible children, such as those with disabilities and those in foster care.
The budget also included funding for ongoing class size reduction (from 22 to 20 students per class), the expansion of the Summer Transition Program for rising Pre-K students, and a requirement for Pre-K providers to offer five days of paid leave for lead and assistant teachers, with funding to cover substitute teachers.
Home Visiting
The final version of the budget included $3.7M for the Georgia Department of Public Health Home Visiting Program, expanding access to an additional 33 counties, bringing the total to 108 across the state. This program provides much-needed access to care and support for mothers and babies across the state, especially in rural areas.
Early Literacy
The Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026 (HB 1193) seeks to strengthen early literacy across Georgia, with a primary focus on kindergarten through third grade. This comprehensive bill includes several provisions relevant to younger children, such as requiring school systems to adopt a unified literacy plan that incorporates strategies for collaboration with early learning providers.
These wins did not happen in isolation. They reflect the strength of the partnerships and coalitions advocating for Georgia’s youngest learners and their families. As we reflect on this legislative session, the GEEARS team is reminded that the power of collective advocacy remains undeniable. Together with our partners, we amplified the voices of families with young children and shed light on the challenges they face every day.
From Strolling Thunder to Georgia Diaper Bank Day to SNAP Advocacy Day, 9to5 Paid Leave Day, Healthy Housing Day, Interfaith Children’s Day, and many more, we showed up—side by side—to advocate for policies that support Georgia’s youngest learners and their families. We engaged students in the legislative process, delivered messages on diapers, and spoke out at press conferences.
While this session may not have delivered all the progress we hoped for, one thing is clear: our cross-sector partnerships are stronger than ever. That strength is not just a highlight of this year—it is the foundation for the work ahead. And it positions us to come back even more unified, strategic, and determined in the sessions to come.
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