All Roll Calls
Yes: 207 • No: 8
GeorgiaHB 1722025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Veterinary education; limits on student loan forgiveness program; provide
Sponsored By: Robert Dickey (Republican), Chuck Efstration (Republican), Jaclyn Ford (Republican), Spencer Frye (Democrat), David Huddleston (Republican)
Became Law
Higher EducationGeneral Bill
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Bigger loan relief for rural vets
Approved veterinarians can get up to $90,000 toward their veterinary education loans. The program pays $30,000 for each full 12 months of service after you sign the agreement. Service must be in a board‑approved rural Georgia county with 50,000 or fewer people, using the 2020 census (or future censuses). Total payments cannot exceed $90,000 per person.
Loan help only for food animal vets
The law limits this program to Georgia veterinarians whose work includes food‑animal care. You must be a Georgia resident, have a DVM or equivalent, and be authorized to practice in Georgia. You must have done food‑animal work for 10 years or less. You must provide services while living in Georgia. If you do not meet all these rules, you cannot get a loan purchase.
Three year service contract and one award
You must sign a three‑year contract with the board before any loan purchases are granted. You can receive this award only once in your life. The board may require a yearly certification that you still meet the rules. The board can cancel a contract for cause, but not arbitrarily or unreasonably.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Robert Dickey
Republican • House
Chuck Efstration
Republican • House
Jaclyn Ford
Republican • House
Spencer Frye
Democrat • House
David Huddleston
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Matt Brass
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/4/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 43 • No: 4
House vote • 2/26/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 164 • No: 4
Actions Timeline
Effective Date
7/1/2025House Date Signed by Governor
5/12/2025HouseAct 119
5/12/2025House Sent to Governor
4/9/2025HouseSenate Taken from Table
4/4/2025SenateSenate Third Read
4/4/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted
4/4/2025SenateSenate Taken from Table
4/2/2025SenateSenate Third Read
4/2/2025SenateSenate Tabled
4/2/2025SenateSenate Tabled
3/31/2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
3/18/2025SenateSenate Committee Favorably Reported
3/13/2025SenateSenate Read and Referred
2/27/2025SenateHouse Third Readers
2/26/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
2/26/2025HouseHouse Committee Favorably Reported
2/20/2025HouseHouse Withdrawn, Recommitted
2/18/2025HouseHouse Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
2/13/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
2/3/2025HouseHouse First Readers
1/30/2025HouseHouse Hopper
1/29/2025House
Bill Text
HB 172/AP* (v5)
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