School Voucher Bill Gets New Life In Georgia Senate

A bill that would essentially create a school voucher program in Georgia has received new life in the Legislature.

The original legislation, Senate Bill 173, would have let families use some state money for private services, including private school tuition and tutors. That bill was hotly debated — and narrowly defeated — in the state Senate. The legislation didn’t make it out of the Senate before Crossover Day, the deadline for bills to pass one chamber to stay alive for the session.

Since then, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, rewrote the original bill. Because SB 173 didn’t pass the Senate, the new bill is attached to House Bill 68, which puts limitations on a tax credit scholarship program. Dolezal told the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday the new version has some significant changes. The original bill had been engrossed before the Senate vote, meaning it couldn’t be amended.