State Sen. Marty Harbin introduced a bill in the Georgia Senate seeking to confine public school flag displays to only the national and state flags. The Georgia State Senate details the bill’s provisions.
This measure, designated SB537, was introduced Thursday, Feb. 19, during the 2026 regular legislative session of the 158th General Assembly. It is specifically described as: ’Education; schools that receive state funds from displaying any flag other than the flag of the United States or the flag, coat of arms, or state emblem of the State of Georgia; prohibit’.
Below is our summary, which draws from the original bill text and may clarify certain points for readability.
The legislation would prohibit any elementary, secondary or postsecondary educational institution in Georgia receiving state funding from displaying any flag, in any way or at any time, on school property used for education except for those representing the United States or the State of Georgia—namely, the state flag, coat of arms, or state emblem. It would be a violation for any person to cause a flag not approved under these guidelines to be displayed. The bill is designed to strictly confine flag representation in educational spaces that use public funds to only those deemed federal or state symbols.
Co-sponsors on the bill include Sen. Timothy Bearden (Republican-30th), Sen. John Albers (Republican-56th), Sen. Sam Watson (Republican-11th), and eight additional co-sponsors.
Since the session’s start, Harbin has submitted 13 other bills, with one advancing to adoption.
Harbin earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University in 1977.
A member of the Republican Party, Harbin was first elected to the state Senate in 2015 for the 16th District, following former Sen. Ronnie Chance.
In Georgia, the legislative process typically starts when a legislator, sometimes at a constituent’s urging, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to craft a bill. After official filing in the House or Senate, it gets its first reading and moves to a committee for detailed review. If it passes in committee, the bill goes to the chamber floor for a third reading, further debate, and a final vote. Passage through both chambers is required, sometimes involving a conference committee if amendments must be reconciled, and the bill then goes to the governor. The governor has six days during the session—or 40 days beyond adjournment (Sine Die)—to act on the bill: sign, veto or let it become law unsigned. The Georgia General Assembly hosts a 40-day legislative session each year beginning on the second Monday in January.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB524 | 02/18/2026 | License Plates; specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia; establish |
| SB503 | 02/12/2026 | Insurance; rental home marketplace guarantees from the definition of property insurance; exempt |
| SB441 | 01/29/2026 | Local Government Investment Pool; certain pooled investments to be approved by the State Depository Board; require |
| SB426 | 01/27/2026 | Education; high school students seeking a high school diploma to achieve a minimum score of 70 percent on the United States Citizenship Civics Test; require |
| SB425 | 01/27/2026 | Education; all schools that receive state funding with students in any of grades three through five to provide instruction in cursive handwriting to all students by no later than third grade; require |
| SB424 | 01/27/2026 | “Transactional Gold and Silver Act”; enact |
| SB399 | 01/14/2026 | “Mason Sells AED Coordination Act”; enact |
| SB325 | 03/05/2025 | Education; local school systems and public schools to employ or accept as volunteers school chaplains; authorize |
| SB324 | 03/05/2025 | Life Insurance; certain protections for life insurance policyholders and beneficiaries; provide |
| SB261 | 02/26/2025 | Magistrates Retirement Fund; early retirement benefit; provide |
| SB120 | 02/06/2025 | Education; public schools, local education agencies, and public postsecondary institutions shall not promote, support, or maintain any programs or activities that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion |
| SB121 | 02/06/2025 | Uninsured Motorist Coverage; minimum required under motor vehicle liability policies for a individual convicted of driving under the influence or reckless driving; increase |
| SB46 | 01/28/2025 | “Government Serves the People Act”; enact |
This article uses information from the Georgia State Senate. Access the original source data here.
