HB 1328: University of North Georgia military scholarships; authorize selection committee to select additional scholarship recipients

Georgia law currently sets up a scholarship program for University of North Georgia military students in which members of the General Assembly recommend candidates, and a selection committee picks three recipients from each congressional district. This bill changes how many candidates get nominated and how many can ultimately receive scholarships. Under the bill, the General Assembly must nominate at least six candidates per congressional district, up to a maximum of ten. The selection committee must still pick at least three recipients per district, but the bill lets the committee award additional scholarships if funding allows. There is a statewide cap: total scholarship recipients cannot exceed 70 percent of the Georgia Army National Guard cadets enrolled at the university or 210 people, whichever is smaller. When picking extra recipients, the committee must try to spread scholarships evenly across congressional districts and cadet cohorts.

• Requires the General Assembly to nominate at least six and no more than ten scholarship candidates per congressional district each year, up from a flat six.
• Lets the selection committee award scholarships to additional candidates beyond the standard three per district, if funding is available.
• Caps total scholarship recipients statewide at 70 percent of Georgia Army National Guard cadets enrolled at the University of North Georgia or 210 people, whichever is less.
• Directs the committee to try to distribute the additional scholarships evenly across congressional districts and cadet cohorts.
• Keeps the existing rule allowing at-large selection when a district lacks three qualified candidates.

University of North Georgia students who are Georgia Army National Guard cadets and apply for military scholarships, members of the General Assembly who recommend candidates, and the scholarship selection committee that reviews nominees and awards funding.

More cadets at the University of North Georgia could receive scholarship assistance than under current law, since the committee gains authority to fund additional recipients rather than only three per district, though the total is still capped statewide.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-3-422 so the General Assembly nominates not less than six and not more than ten candidates per congressional district, instead of a fixed six.
• Section 1 keeps the requirement that at least three nominees per district be selected as scholarship recipients.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-3-423(b) to let the committee select additional scholarship recipients beyond the standard three per district, subject to available funding.
• Section 2 sets the overall cap: total recipients cannot exceed 70 percent of enrolled Georgia Army National Guard cadets at the University of North Georgia or 210 persons, whichever is less.
• Section 2 requires the committee to award additional scholarships as evenly as practicable across congressional districts and cadet cohorts.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 469
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Will Wade (R, HD-009)Primary sponsor
• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-024)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2026

   172 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #653

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #814

• military scholarships
• University of North Georgia
• Georgia Army National Guard
• higher education funding