PRIA Logo™
GeorgiaSB 5562025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

HOPE Scholarship; the inclusion of advanced placement and international baccalaureate fine arts courses in the calculation of grade point averages; provide

Sponsored By: Billy Hickman (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Freddie Powell Sims (Democrat), Shawn Still (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Higher EducationGeneral Bill

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Medical scholarships require Georgia practice

Starting in academic year 2026–2027, scholarships help full-time students at eligible University System of Georgia medical schools. Awards depend on state funding, cannot exceed annual cost of attendance, and cover no more than eight semesters. Applicants must meet the referenced eligibility requirements, complete the FAFSA, apply, maintain federal student-aid academic progress, and have no medical degree. Recipients must sign a contract to practice medicine in Georgia for at least four years after graduation. Failure to meet completion, licensing, or service requirements triggers repayment, with credit for each year of Georgia practice.

New college grants with participation requirements

Starting in academic year 2026–2027, DREAMS scholarships provide eligible Georgia public college undergraduates up to $3,000 a year. Awards cannot exceed unmet financial need and last no more than eight semesters or 12 quarters. Students must complete the FAFSA, meet the referenced HOPE eligibility requirements, and enroll for at least six semester hours or equivalent. They cannot already hold a bachelor's or first professional degree. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA and federal student-aid academic progress, complete a financial-literacy course, and do part-time paid or unpaid work. Qualifying work includes employment, internships, volunteering, or military service.

Advanced arts grades count toward scholarships

Qualifying advanced fine arts grades join English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language in scholarship GPA calculations. The Georgia Student Finance Commission uses a uniform 4.0 scale and uniform weighting for advanced placement, dual-credit, and international baccalaureate grades. Fine arts courses need a third-party written and graded end-of-course exam and a unique state-designated advanced course number and name. The rule covers otherwise qualified students who entered ninth grade in 2008–2009 or later, but excludes fine arts grades for graduates before July 1, 2026. The commission calculates GPAs from electronic transcripts and notifies students and high schools of potential scholarship eligibility.

Higher savings ceiling for college accounts

The Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan raises its per-beneficiary balance threshold from $235,000 to $550,000. The threshold counts all Georgia plan accounts for the same beneficiary together. No more contributions are allowed once that combined balance reaches or exceeds $550,000. This change takes effect upon the law's approval or becoming law without approval.

Families gain out-of-state college savings deduction

For tax years 2026–2030, Georgia offers a new deduction for eligible tuition-plan contributions, excluding Georgia's own plan. Another state's plan qualifies only if that state offers a similar deduction or tax credit. The new deduction is up to $2,000 per beneficiary for single or separate returns, or $4,000 for joint returns. Together with the existing deduction, annual limits are $4,000 per beneficiary for single or separate returns, or $8,000 for joint returns. Contributions count through the federal IRA contribution deadline for that tax year, and Georgia's revenue department publishes qualifying plans.

College staff gain overdose response protections

Beginning July 1, 2026, Georgia university and technical college personnel may give medicine when they believe someone is overdosing in good faith. This authority covers campuses, system-sponsored events, people under staff supervision, and campus presence before or after normal activities. Staff acting in good faith receive protection from civil lawsuits and professional discipline for giving medicine or choosing not to. Specified protections also cover staff and institutions for removal or misuse of the medicine. These protections do not cover willful or wanton misconduct.

Colleges stock and allow overdose medicine

Beginning July 1, 2026, Georgia university and technical college system campuses must stock overdose-reversal medicine when community funding is available. Supplies must be secure and sufficient for multiple overdoses; technical colleges must also follow manufacturer instructions. Campuses must make reasonable efforts to keep supplies during shortages. Where campuses have automated defibrillators, medicine must be within three feet, or as close as space allows. Students, visitors, and employees cannot be barred from carrying this medicine on system property or at system-sponsored events. The law excludes both systems, and university buildings, from specified statewide government-building rules; separate campus supply rules apply instead.

Dedicated fund supports new college grants

The Georgia Student Finance Authority manages a separate DREAMS scholarship fund using state funding and public or private contributions. The fund has principal, scholarship, and transitional accounts, with required investment and spending policies. Awards use the transitional account for the first two fiscal years after initial funding, then the scholarship account. Emergency principal transfers need a two-thirds board vote and must be limited to money needed to reduce award cuts. Each transfer authorization expires within one year and must include a plan to replace the principal.

Student workers lose retirement plan coverage

Beginning July 1, 2026, part-time students working for their covered institution are excluded from the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan's employee definition. This extends the exclusion already applied to full-time students. The plan's revised definitions also exclude genuine independent contractors and state board or commission members as employees. The employer definition expressly includes state entities and boards, including the Board of Regents.

Lottery reserves protect education but constrain spending

Beginning in Fiscal Year 2027, Georgia's lottery education reserve must meet a new minimum. It is at least 50% of the greater of three-year average net deposits or base lottery spending. Base spending includes voluntary pre-K and college tuition grants, scholarships, and loans for Georgia residents at in-state institutions, excluding excess-reserve spending. The statute specifies Fiscal Year 2025 as the start for directing 10% of qualifying prior-year excess reserves to education. Reserve money can cover revenue shortfalls, but withdrawals must be replaced to the required level the next fiscal year. Required replenishment also triggers review and adjustment of lottery-funded programs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Billy Hickman

    Republican • Senate

  • Chuck Payne

    Republican • Senate

  • Freddie Powell Sims

    Democrat • Senate

  • Shawn Still

    Republican • Senate

  • Rick Williams

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Scott Hilton

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 278 • No: 44

House vote • 4/2/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 167 • No: 2 • Other: 7

Senate vote • 4/2/2026

AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE AS AMENDED

Yes: 25 • No: 25 • Other: 5

Senate vote • 4/2/2026

AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 36 • No: 17 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 50 • No: 0 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2026

  2. Senate Date Signed by Governor

    5/11/2026Senate

  3. Act 468

    5/11/2026

  4. Senate Sent to Governor

    4/10/2026Senate

  5. House Third Readers

    4/2/2026House

  6. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    4/2/2026House

  7. Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub

    4/2/2026Senate

  8. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/27/2026House

  9. House Second Readers

    3/10/2026House

  10. House First Readers

    3/9/2026House

  11. Senate Tabled

    3/6/2026Senate

  12. Senate Taken from Table

    3/6/2026Senate

  13. Senate Third Read

    3/6/2026Senate

  14. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/6/2026Senate

  15. Senate Read Second Time

    3/4/2026Senate

  16. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/3/2026Senate

  17. Senate Read and Referred

    2/25/2026Senate

  18. Senate Hopper

    2/24/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • SB 556/AP* (v13)

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation