HB602: HB602 Education; denial of state funds for loans, grants, and scholarships for any student convicted of a criminal offense; provisions

Currently Georgia law does not tie state financial aid eligibility to a student's criminal conduct on campus. This bill would add a new article to Georgia's education code creating that link. If a student is convicted of a crime under Georgia's criminal code (Title 16) or federal law, and that conviction stems from 'materially and substantially disruptive conduct' on a postsecondary campus, such as fighting, blocking building entrances, property damage, or harassment, the student would lose eligibility for state-funded loans, grants, or scholarships. The denial starts on the first day of the academic term following the conviction and lasts through the following term. The bill exempts conduct protected by the Georgia or U.S. Constitution, including peaceful protests in open outdoor areas not reserved for other events, and brief, minor disruptions. Colleges receiving state funds must agree to enforce this rule. The Georgia Student Finance Commission would write implementing rules, including a process to restore aid if a conviction is later overturned.

• Denies state-funded loans, grants, or scholarships to any college student convicted of a criminal offense tied to disruptive conduct on campus.
• Defines 'materially and substantially disruptive conduct' to include fighting, property damage, blocking building access, loud disruption of events, and harassment.
• Exempts constitutionally protected activity, such as peaceful outdoor protests and brief, minor disruptions, from triggering the funding denial.
• Sets the funding denial to begin the term after conviction and last through the following term.
• Requires colleges that accept state funds to agree to enforce this rule as a condition of their students' aid eligibility.
• Directs the Georgia Student Finance Commission to write rules, including a process to restore aid if a conviction is overturned on appeal.

College and university students in Georgia who rely on state financial aid, public and private postsecondary institutions that accept state funds, and the Georgia Student Finance Commission, which would write and enforce the new rules alongside the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia.

Students convicted of crimes linked to campus disruptions, such as violent altercations, property damage, or blocking access to buildings, could lose state financial aid for at least a full academic term, affecting their ability to pay for tuition and continue their education, while protests and minor disruptions remain protected.

• Section 1 adds new Code Sections 20-1-50 through 20-1-52 to Title 20 defining key terms including 'campus,' 'convicted,' 'criminal offense,' and 'materially and substantially disruptive conduct.'
• O.C.G.A. § 20-1-50(6) lists specific disruptive acts, such as fighting, property damage, blocking facility access, loud disruption of events, and harassment, that can trigger the funding denial.
• O.C.G.A. § 20-1-50(6)(B) exempts constitutionally protected speech, including lawful outdoor protests and brief nonviolent disruptions, from the definition of disruptive conduct.
• O.C.G.A. § 20-1-51(a) denies state loans, grants, and scholarships under Article 7 of Chapter 3 to any student convicted under these terms, effective as of the conviction date.
• O.C.G.A. § 20-1-51(b) sets the denial period to run from the next enrollment term through the following term.
• O.C.G.A. § 20-1-51(c) requires postsecondary institutions receiving state funds to agree to comply with the article for their students to remain eligible for state aid.
• O.C.G.A. § 20-1-52 directs the Georgia Student Finance Commission to issue rules, including relief for students whose convictions are later overturned.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-03-06House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-02-27House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-26House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-24House Hopper (House)

• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)Primary sponsor
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-024)
• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)
• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)

• student financial aid
• campus protests
• higher education funding
• student discipline
• college scholarships