Politics
Politics

House opposes school voucher bill but it could be a temporary defeat

Rep. Imani Barnes (D-Tucker) and Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth) cheer after HB 233 fails to pass on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. The bill would send $6,500 a year to parents to help cover education-related costs, including private school tuition. (Natrice Miller/ natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

Rep. Imani Barnes (D-Tucker) and Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth) cheer after HB 233 fails to pass on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. The bill would send $6,500 a year to parents to help cover education-related costs, including private school tuition. (Natrice Miller/ natrice.miller@ajc.com)
By Ty Tagami
March 30, 2023

In a dramatic vote, the Georgia House narrowly defeated a school voucher bill that would have offered $6,500 to certain public school students who opted for a private education.

The 89-85 vote against Senate Bill 233 led to cheers on the House floor, mostly among the Democrats who led the charge against it. More than a dozen Republicans broke ranks to oppose the measure, while only one Democrat supported it.

Rep. Imani Barnes (D-Tucker) and Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth) cheer after Senate Bill 233 fails to pass in the Georgia House on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. The bill would send $6,500 a year to parents to help cover education-related costs, including private school tuition. (Natrice Miller/ natrice.miller@ajc.com)

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

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Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

But Republican proponents swiftly called for a vote to reconsider the measure, which passed 98-73. That means it could come up for a vote later Wednesday or next year.

- LIVE: Watch streams of the Georgia House and Senate

About the Author

Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.

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