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GeorgiaHB 13022025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Education and Workforce Strategy Act; enact

Sponsored By: Matt Dubnik (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican), Matthew Gambill (Republican), Scott Hilton (Republican), Devan Seabaugh (Republican), Will Wade (Republican)

Signed by Governor

EducationHigher EducationGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Students keep grants beyond course cap

Dual Enrollment students who qualify for a HOPE grant can use it for eligible career, technical, and agricultural education courses. This access continues even after students reach the Dual Enrollment credit-hour cap. The law removes the June 30, 2028 end date for this access.

Online guidance for students and jobseekers

The Office must create and maintain a secure online tool for students, parents, counselors, educators, and job seekers. It brings together education, job-training, financial-aid, and career credential information. State education, college, labor, and student-finance agencies must provide data and help connect their systems where legally allowed. The tool must receive annual updates and improvements. It does not itself award aid or guarantee enrollment.

Georgia assigns staff to literacy support

The Office provides staff support for the Council on Literacy and hires a Georgia Literacy Coach to coordinate that support. Money specifically set aside for the Council must support its work. The law removes the former requirement to coordinate this support with the Alliance of Education Agency Heads.

Georgia coordinates education and job training

The Office of Education and Workforce Strategy leads a statewide plan and meets with partner agencies at least quarterly. The plan includes programs, outcomes, credentials, and required reports, and follows federal workforce and career-education planning cycles. Education and technical college agencies also prepare a combined federal plan with the Office's help. That plan uses local needs data, federal guidance, and stakeholder input, and describes efforts to keep federal funding eligibility. The State Workforce Development Board approves both plans before they go to the Governor, and reviews the statewide progress report. The combined federal plan must also be shared publicly as federal law requires; these duties do not directly change household benefits.

Career academies must prove job readiness

Applicants seeking certification for new or existing college and career academies must show that they meet education and training standards. These cover student achievement, technical skills, dual credit, work-based learning, workforce development, and local governance. When applicable, applicants must explain how the Accelerated Career Diploma Program and Top State for Talent apprenticeship program support job readiness. They must also explain the role of the region's High-Demand Career List. These requirements apply to academy applicants, not directly to students.

Georgia expands education data and oversight

State education and workforce agencies must provide needed information and share or connect systems only as state and federal law allow. The Office holds regular coordination meetings and gains access to the statewide education information system. It replaces the Alliance of Education Agency Heads in recommending contract purposes and minimum student-record data requirements. System contracts and implementation still depend on state funding, and privacy and security rules still apply. The Office can also audit or inspect programs from prekindergarten through college and education workforce programs. Its director chooses which programs and entities to review.

State apprenticeship support comes with limits

The law names the Technical College System of Georgia as the state apprenticeship agency. Federal approval is required before it registers and oversees programs, helps sponsors and apprentices, and issues certificates; federal oversight continues. Registration is limited to occupations covered by federal apprenticeship rules and must be coordinated with Georgia's High-Demand Career List. After federal recognition, all registered programs operating in Georgia must report to the System under a federally approved transition plan. The System must also develop a nationally recognized state completion credential for people who finish apprenticeships registered with it.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Matt Dubnik

    Republican • House

  • Chris Erwin

    Republican • House

  • Matthew Gambill

    Republican • House

  • Scott Hilton

    Republican • House

  • Devan Seabaugh

    Republican • House

  • Will Wade

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Matt Brass

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 278 • No: 38

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 48 • No: 1 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

MOTION FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION

Yes: 29 • No: 19 • Other: 5

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

SHALL THE RULING OF THE CHAIR BE SUSTAINED

Yes: 29 • No: 16 • Other: 8

House vote • 3/4/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 172 • No: 2 • Other: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2026

  2. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/11/2026House

  3. Act 474

    5/11/2026

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/6/2026House

  5. Senate Third Read

    3/18/2026Senate

  6. Senate Passed/Adopted

    3/18/2026Senate

  7. Senate Read Second Time

    3/16/2026Senate

  8. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/12/2026Senate

  9. Senate Read and Referred

    3/6/2026Senate

  10. House Third Readers

    3/4/2026House

  11. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/4/2026House

  12. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/26/2026House

  13. House Second Readers

    2/17/2026House

  14. House Hopper

    2/12/2026House

  15. House First Readers

    2/12/2026House

Bill Text

  • HB 1302/AP* (v9)

    PDF

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