Georgia House Bill HR1108

Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/26

Caption

Education; equip students with the skills of critical media consumption; recognize urgent need

Summary

House Resolution 1108 is a nonbinding resolution that recognizes the need for Georgia students to learn critical media consumption skills in grades 9-12. The resolution frames media literacy as a response to political polarization, misinformation, social media echo chambers, and the increasing influence of unverified digital content on young people. It defines critical media consumption as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and interpret media for credibility, bias, and intent, and argues that these skills can strengthen civic reasoning and constructive civic engagement. The resolution encourages the State Board of Education to adopt performance standards for Critical Media Consumption Education and asks the Georgia Department of Education to develop supporting materials, including professional learning for educators, a vetted resource bank of lessons and assessments, and family engagement materials. It specifically suggests that this instruction be integrated into existing English Language Arts and Social Studies courses rather than created as a separate high-stakes testing requirement. The measure also directs the House Clerk to distribute copies to education agencies and local school boards.

Impact

Because HR 1108 is a resolution rather than a statute, it does not itself change Georgia law or create enforceable requirements for schools, teachers, or students. Its practical effect is to formally signal legislative support for media literacy instruction and to encourage state education authorities to develop standards, training, and instructional resources for high school grades. If adopted by the relevant agencies, it could influence curriculum guidance, professional development, and classroom materials across Georgia public schools, especially in ELA and social studies.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of media literacy education and concerned about the civic harms of misinformation and polarization. The bill text presents the issue as urgent and positions critical media consumption as a constructive, nonpartisan educational response. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented opposition or amendment debate in the available materials.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the resolution’s framing of misinformation, polarization, and social media as civic threats, and whether the state should formally encourage new standards in this area. Some stakeholders could question whether media literacy content should be prioritized within existing courses, whether state-level standards might affect local control over curriculum, or whether the proposed approach could be viewed as politically sensitive. However, the available record does not show any specific objections, sponsors’ responses, or recorded vote divisions.