HB 1052: Student Housing Affordability Act; enact

Georgia currently offers scholarships and grants to eligible students through the Georgia Student Finance Authority, but there is no dedicated program covering the cost gap between on-campus and off-campus housing. This bill, called the Student Housing Affordability Act, would add a new subpart to Georgia law directing the Georgia Student Finance Commission to set up a grant program for students who live off campus. To qualify, a student must attend an eligible postsecondary institution, not live in on-campus housing, already qualify for a scholarship or grant under an existing state program (O.C.G.A. § 20-3-519.1), and have filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The grant amount would be capped at the difference between on-campus and off-campus housing costs as calculated in the school's official cost of attendance. The program depends on the legislature actually appropriating money for it, and students who don't enroll for the semester the grant covers would have to have their school refund the money to the commission.

• Creates a new state grant program run by the Georgia Student Finance Commission to help eligible students pay for off-campus housing.
• Limits eligibility to students who are enrolled at an eligible postsecondary institution, live off campus, already qualify for an existing state scholarship or grant, and have filed the FAFSA.
• Caps each student's grant at the dollar difference between on-campus and off-campus housing costs listed in the school's official cost of attendance.
• Requires the commission to write rules and procedures for how students apply for the grants.
• Requires schools to refund grant money to the commission if a funded student does not actually enroll for the semester the grant covers.
• Makes the whole program contingent on the General Assembly appropriating (state funding) for it.

College students in Georgia who live off campus and already qualify for state financial aid, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, which would administer the program, and eligible postsecondary institutions, which would help process applications and issue refunds for students who don't enroll.

If funded, some Georgia college students who live off campus could get help covering the cost gap between on-campus and off-campus housing, potentially easing a real financial burden. But because the program only operates

• Section 1 gives the Act its short title, the Student Housing Affordability Act.
• Section 2 adds a new subpart (Code Sections 20-3-367 and 20-3-368) to Georgia's student finance laws defining key terms like 'cost of attendance,' 'eligible postsecondary institution,' and 'eligible student.'
• Code Section 20-3-368(a) creates the grant program itself, subject to state appropriations, and caps the award at the on-campus versus off-campus housing cost difference.
• Code Section 20-3-368(b) requires students to apply under commission-set rules and requires schools to refund grant money if a funded student fails to enroll.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-29House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-27House Hopper (House)

• Bryce Berry (D, HD-056)Primary sponsor
• Akbar Ali (D, HD-106)
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)
• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)
• Eric Gisler (D, HD-121)

• student housing
• college affordability
• financial aid
• higher education funding