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GeorgiaSB 202025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Veterinarians; student loan repayment; who practice shelter medicine and in nonprofit pet sterilization clinics; provide; create the State Veterinary Education Board for Shelter Medicine and Pet Sterilization

Sponsored By: Lee Anderson (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Elena Parent (Democrat), Chuck Payne (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Higher EducationGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Bigger college grants for public safety families

Georgia expands Public Safety Memorial Grants to spouses as well as children of qualifying workers killed or permanently disabled on duty. Covered workers include law enforcement officers, firefighters, prison guards, emergency medical technicians, and highway emergency response operators serving covered governments. Annual grants rise from $2,000 to $18,000, and the lifetime cap rises from $8,000 to $72,000 per student. Grants can cover summer school, but payments depend on state lawmakers providing funding. Students must attend an approved school, have 12 months of Georgia citizenship before registration, and remain Georgia citizens. An adopted child's final adoption order must come before the death or disabling event; events before July 1, 2025, can qualify. Renewals require successful completion of the prior school period, good academic standing, and continued eligibility. The Georgia Student Finance Authority can require proof of death or qualifying severe permanent disability, including medical exams when needed.

College grants for school workers' families

Georgia creates college grants for children and spouses of public school teachers or employees killed or permanently disabled by willful violence. The violence must occur while the employee is on duty, doing paid work for the employing local education agency. Eligible students at approved schools can get up to $18,000 per academic year and $72,000 total, including summer enrollment. Payments depend on state lawmakers providing funding. Students must have 12 months of Georgia citizenship before registration and remain Georgia citizens while receiving grants. An adopted child's final adoption order must precede the violence; events before July 1, 2025, can qualify. Disability must meet the law's specific severe physical impairment or traumatic brain damage standards. Renewals require an application, successful completion of the prior school period, good standing, and continued eligibility. The Georgia Student Finance Authority can require verification and medical exams, and can pay exam costs from program funds.

Loan relief for shelter and clinic veterinarians

Beginning January 1, 2026, Georgia offers education loan purchases for qualifying shelter and nonprofit pet sterilization clinic veterinarians. Applicants need a veterinary medicine degree or equivalent, Georgia residency, a Georgia practice license, and no more than 10 years in practice. They must sign a contract for three consecutive years of full-time qualifying work at a board-approved shelter or nonprofit clinic. Assistance equals $25,000 for each 12 months of service after signing, up to $75,000, with one award per lifetime. Shelter veterinarians whose work includes pet sterilization receive priority. The State Veterinary Education Board can make no more than four new agreements yearly, and obligations cannot exceed state funding. Unspent, uncontracted funds expire at year-end; the board can cancel contracts for just cause under its rules. The board is attached to the Department of Agriculture and adds shelter, nonprofit clinic, and shelter-medicine representatives starting January 1, 2026. It must keep this program's accounts separate from existing veterinary loan programs, with state funding allocated to each program.

Optional donations support public servant families' education

For tax years beginning January 1, 2026, Georgia individual tax returns offer voluntary contributions from refunds or in addition to tax owed. Beginning January 1, 2026, driver's license and ID issuance or renewal forms must offer $1, $5, or $10 donations. Money supports college aid for eligible children and spouses of public safety workers killed or permanently disabled on duty. It also supports families of public school teachers and employees killed or permanently disabled by violence on duty. These options create no new tax credit or deduction, and grant payments still depend on state funding. Revenue officials send tax contributions to the Georgia Student Finance Authority annually. Driver Services sends donation proceeds after reasonable processing costs, which cannot exceed the contributions collected.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Lee Anderson

    Republican • Senate

  • Kay Kirkpatrick

    Republican • Senate

  • Elena Parent

    Democrat • Senate

  • Chuck Payne

    Republican • Senate

  • Carden Summers

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Scott Hilton

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 264 • No: 9

Senate vote • 4/4/2025

AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 50 • No: 2 • Other: 2

House vote • 4/2/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 160 • No: 5 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/3/2025

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 54 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2025

  2. Senate Date Signed by Governor

    5/14/2025Senate

  3. Act 304

    5/14/2025

  4. Senate Sent to Governor

    4/10/2025Senate

  5. Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub

    4/4/2025Senate

  6. House Withdrawn, Recommitted

    4/2/2025House

  7. House Third Readers

    4/2/2025House

  8. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    4/2/2025House

  9. House Committee Favorably Reported

    3/20/2025House

  10. House Second Readers

    3/6/2025House

  11. House First Readers

    3/4/2025House

  12. Senate Third Read

    3/3/2025Senate

  13. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/3/2025Senate

  14. Senate Read Second Time

    2/20/2025Senate

  15. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/19/2025Senate

  16. Senate Read and Referred

    1/17/2025Senate

  17. Senate Hopper

    1/16/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • SB 20/AP* (v10)

    PDF

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