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GeorgiaHB 1922025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Top State for Talent Act; enact

Sponsored By: Matt Dubnik (Republican), Matthew Gambill (Republican), Soo Hong (Republican), Lauren McDonald III (Republican), Will Wade (Republican)

Signed by Governor

EducationHigher EducationGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Career classes connect students with employer credentials

Georgia’s required career curriculum for grades 6–12 must include career exploration and learning tied to the High-demand Career List. It must include rigorous industry credentialing when Georgia employers create or endorse it. State education agencies must develop and approve career program models and standards in 14 fields, consulting industries and colleges. Education and technical college agencies must publish an employer-required credential list, review it annually, and post it before annual grant applications. State agencies must encourage credentialing; local schools may align skill-based classes and work experience with high-demand careers.

Colleges coordinate credit transfers for students

Georgia’s university and technical college systems, state education board, and local school boards are expected to coordinate college credit transfer policies. Transfer agreements can help students avoid repeating classes, but the law does not guarantee transfer of any particular course. Credit reports identify how many credits are awarded and which institutions award them. The workforce board must approve reports by December 1 and publish them by December 31 of each even-numbered year.

Earlier college and career planning for students

Georgia public school students in grades 6–12 must receive counseling, career information, and reviews of career interests and job demand. Each student must create a college and career plan with a parent, guardian, or designee by eighth grade’s end. Plans guide ninth-grade scheduling, receive annual reviews, and include work-based learning, applicable credentials, and options for college study. Starting in ninth grade, plans include creating and using a GAfutures.org account and using Georgia MATCH. Charter school waivers are now subject to these college and career plan rules instead of the former graduation plan rules.

Education funding follows job demand and results

Under the Governor’s direction, the State Workforce Development Board must work with state agencies on a data-based High-demand Career List. The Board must approve, submit, and publicly post it annually by December 31; state and local agencies must use it to guide education funding. The law also removes the former “of value” wording for credentials. Program reviews track employment and retention, credential alignment and attainment, and wages and wage growth at 2, 5, and 10 years. Agencies and schools must share needed data with privacy protections; reports require approval by December 1 and publication by December 31 in even-numbered years. Findings guide recommendations to keep, change, or end programs.

School reform grant requirements are removed

The law removes statutory requirements for chronically low-performing high schools that receive reform grants. The State Board of Education must adopt rules needed to carry out this part of the law. The text does not specify changes to student services or school funding.

Schools lose former competitive grant program

The law ends the former BRIDGE competitive grant program. Schools and other eligible groups can no longer receive awards through that program. This repeal does not state how much funding was previously available.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Matt Dubnik

    Republican • House

  • Matthew Gambill

    Republican • House

  • Soo Hong

    Republican • House

  • Lauren McDonald III

    Republican • House

  • Will Wade

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Drew Echols

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 203 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/28/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 48 • No: 1 • Other: 2

House vote • 2/21/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 155 • No: 1 • Other: 13

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2025

  2. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/12/2025House

  3. Act 117

    5/12/2025

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/10/2025House

  5. Senate Third Read

    3/28/2025Senate

  6. Senate Passed/Adopted

    3/28/2025Senate

  7. Senate Read Second Time

    3/25/2025Senate

  8. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/21/2025Senate

  9. Senate Read and Referred

    2/24/2025Senate

  10. House Third Readers

    2/21/2025House

  11. House Passed/Adopted

    2/21/2025House

  12. House Committee Favorably Reported

    2/11/2025House

  13. House Second Readers

    2/4/2025House

  14. House First Readers

    2/3/2025House

  15. House Hopper

    1/30/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 192/AP* (v3)

    PDF

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