The Georgia Senate, in an act of bipartisanship, quickly passed a bill Thursday to reverse a law passed last year that may put children in danger.

School officials say a law that took effect July 1 appears to relax the requirement to stop in the oncoming lane for a school bus that is boarding or releasing students.

At least one child has been killed crossing to a bus in Georgia since the law passed, the Georgia Department of Education says. It happened in October in Colquitt County, when two brothers were crossing a road for a school bus.

RELATED | Why a small change in law could create danger for students

Senate Bill 25 by Sen. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, passed by a unanimous vote, and goes to the House of Representatives, which has its own version in House Bill 75.

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Uta Thomas picks up her son, Jax, during a public hearing in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. She implored the school board not to close Dunbar Elementary. 
"You would centralize education to decentralized families," she said. "You would break apart a community hub." (Abbey Cutrer / AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

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The DeKalb school district is suing to recover money spent on cellphone lockers, plus money spent on implementing social media guidelines and hosting associated events, lost teaching time and to hire extra school counselors. (The New York Times file)

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