A Georgia bill that would block students from getting a driver’s license if they miss too much school without an excuse failed in the House Thursday — but got a second chance on the same day lawmakers must either pass it or let it die.
What’s happening: SB 513, called the “Every Day Counts Act,” went down on the House floor. A vote to reconsider then passed, giving the bill one more shot. Thursday is Sine Die — the final day of Georgia’s legislative session. Any bill that does not pass by the end of the day is dead until next session.
What the bill would do: Students under 18 with too many unexcused absences could be denied a learner’s permit or driver’s license. The bill defines a “chronically unexcused student” as one who accumulates more than five unexcused absences in the first 50 days of school, or whose unexcused absences hit 10% or more of total school days after that point. Students in that category who are not following an attendance improvement plan would be turned away when they apply for a license or permit. They could get back on track by meeting with a school attendance review team and either starting or complying with a plan.
Those same students would also be barred from extracurricular and interscholastic activities — sports, clubs, and other school-sponsored programs — until they meet with a review team.
What’s important: The bill would require the state Department of Education to share student attendance records and plan compliance data with the Department of Driver Services, which issues licenses. Schools and districts would have to build multi-tier support systems for students with attendance problems. Districts where 10% or more of students were chronically absent the prior year would need a district-level attendance review team. Schools where that rate hits 15% or higher would need their own team.
The opposition: Opponents argued the bill punishes students instead of helping them. They said blocking access to a driver’s license could cut students off from jobs, food, and other basic needs — making hard situations harder.
The path forward: If the House passes the bill today, it goes to the governor. If it does not pass today, it is dead for this session. The bill, if signed into law, would take effect July 1, 2027.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
