HB88: HB88 State veterinary education; biomedical technicians to be eligible for the state student loan forgiveness program; provide

Georgia already has a loan repayment program run by the State Veterinary Education Board for veterinarians who serve rural areas. This bill extends a similar benefit to veterinary technicians, the trained staff who assist veterinarians. Starting January 1, 2027, the board could agree to pay off part of the student loans of veterinary technicians who have been licensed for ten years or less, in exchange for them working full time in a board-approved rural Georgia county with 50,000 or fewer residents, based on the 2020 census. Participants would sign a three-year contract, receive loan payments of up to $30,000 total at a rate of $10,000 per year of service, and could only take part once in their lifetime. The board could sign no more than five new contracts per year, funding depends on state budget appropriations, and the board can cancel a contract for good cause and must write rules to run the program.

• Creates a new state loan purchase program letting the State Veterinary Education Board pay off portions of student loans for eligible veterinary technicians.
• Limits eligibility to veterinary technicians licensed ten years or less who agree to work full time in an approved rural Georgia county of 50,000 or fewer residents.
• Caps total loan purchases at $30,000 per person, paid at a rate of $10,000 for each 12 months of qualifying rural service.
• Limits the board to signing no more than five new loan purchase agreements per year, subject to state funding levels set in the budget.
• Requires each participant to sign a three-year contract with the board and allows the board to cancel a contract for sufficient cause.
• Sets the program's start date as January 1, 2027 and directs the board to adopt rules to carry it out.

Licensed veterinary technicians in Georgia, especially newer graduates with student debt; the State Veterinary Education Board, which will administer applications and contracts; and rural Georgia counties with 50,000 or fewer residents that may gain access to veterinary support staff.

Rural Georgia counties often struggle to attract veterinary staff. By offering veterinary technicians loan relief in exchange for service in small counties, the bill ties a financial incentive directly to where people work, potentially affecting access to animal care in underserved areas.

• Section 1 adds a new Part 6C to Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Georgia Code, creating O.C.G.A. §§ 20-3-518.12 through 20-3-518.15.
• Code Section 20-3-518.12 defines terms including 'board,' 'practice veterinary technology,' and 'veterinary technology' by reference to O.C.G.A. § 43-50-3.
• Code Section 20-3-518.13 sets eligibility starting January 1, 2027 for Georgia-resident veterinary technicians practicing ten years or less, limited to one loan purchase per lifetime.
• Code Section 20-3-518.14 caps loan purchases at $30,000 per person, pays $10,000 per year of rural service, and limits the board to five new agreements per year subject to appropriations.
• Code Section 20-3-518.15 requires a three-year signed contract approved by the Attorney General and gives the board authority to cancel contracts for sufficient cause.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
3. 2025-03-06House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2025-01-27House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-01-17House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-01-16House Hopper (House)

• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)Primary sponsor
• Karla Drenner (D, HD-085)
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
• Rhonda Burnough (D, HD-077)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)

• veterinary technicians
• student loan forgiveness
• rural healthcare access
• state student loans
• veterinary education