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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)

Became Law

Higher EducationGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Bigger college grants for responder families

Eligible students can now get up to $18,000 each academic year, and $72,000 total. Grants are payable in a summer term. The program adds EMTs and highway emergency response operators to the covered roles. Events before July 1, 2025 can count. Students must be Georgia citizens for the 12 months before registering and stay citizens. The Georgia Student Finance Authority runs the program and can require a physical exam to verify death or permanent disability, and may pay that exam cost with program funds when appropriated.

College grants for families of school employees

The law creates grants for children and spouses of public school teachers and employees killed or permanently disabled by violence on duty. Students can get up to $18,000 per academic year and $72,000 total, payable in a summer term. Students must be Georgia citizens for the 12 months before registering and stay citizens. Acts before July 1, 2025 can count, and adopted children must have the adoption finalized before the act. The Georgia Student Finance Authority runs the program and may require and pay for a physical exam, subject to funding by the General Assembly.

Loan relief for shelter-medicine veterinarians

Starting January 1, 2026, eligible veterinarians can earn up to $75,000 of student loan relief. You must have a DVM, be a Georgia resident authorized to practice, have 10 years or less in practice, and work full time in an animal shelter or a nonprofit pet sterilization clinic. Relief accrues at $25,000 for each 12 months of full-time service, up to the cap. You must sign a three-year contract, and no one can receive this more than once. The board may approve only four new agreements per year, and awards depend on annual state funding. The board also adds two members from the shelter and clinic community and keeps separate accounts for this program.

Optional donations on tax returns and licenses

Beginning January 1, 2026, Georgia tax returns let you donate to the Georgia Student Finance Authority. Driver’s license and ID forms also offer $1, $5, or $10 donations. If you choose to give, your refund or wallet goes down by that amount. The state sends the money to the authority. Driver Services may keep a small amount for admin costs and sends the rest.

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

House vote • 4/2/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 160 • No: 5

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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