Georgia · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 471: Education; requires a student to wear a face mask or face covering while present on school property; eliminate automatic repeal provision
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 471 is a bill introduced in the Georgia Senate on February 6, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Education; requires a student to wear a face mask or face covering while present on school property; eliminate automatic repeal provision. Primary sponsor: Greg Dolezal (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Steve Gooch (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Jason T. Dickerson, Drew Echols (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican). Most recent recorded action (March 6, 2026): House Second Readers.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing that no local board of education, local school superintendent, or school administrator, teacher, or other school personnel shall make or enforce any rule that requires a student to wear a face mask or face covering while present on school property unless such rule provides that a parent or guardian of such student may elect for his or her child to be exempt from such rule, approved March 29, 2022 (Ga. L. 2022, p. 23/SB 514), so as to eliminate the automatic repeal provision; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 11
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Dolezal | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 27 |
| Bo Hatchett | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 50 |
| Ben Watson | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 1 |
| Carden Summers | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 13 |
| Russ Goodman | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 8 |
| Rick Williams | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 25 |
| Max Burns | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 23 |
| Steve Gooch | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 51 |
| Shawn Still | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 48 |
| Jason T. Dickerson | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Drew Echols | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 49 |
| Matt Brass | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 6 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- House Second Readers
- House First Readers
- Senate Passed/Adopted
- Senate Third Read
- Senate Read Second Time
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported
- Senate Read and Referred
- Senate Hopper