Georgia CommonsHouse · Engrossed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1345: State Workforce Development Board; approval of certain eligible workforce training programs relative to implementing the federal Workforce Pell Grant program; provide
Last action March 9, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred
A Georgia House bill would create a new state process for approving workforce training programs that qualify for the new federal Workforce Pell Grant program, putting the Governor and State Workforce Development Board in charge of sign-off.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
The federal government's One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 created a new type of financial aid called the Workforce Pell Grant, which can pay for short-term job training programs instead of only traditional college programs. States need a way to decide which training programs in Georgia qualify for this federal money. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's workforce law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 14 of Title 34) defining an 'eligible workforce training program' as one that meets the federal Workforce Pell Grant program's requirements, as determined by the State Workforce Development Board. It puts the Governor, working with the Board, in charge of approving these programs and coordinating with other federal and state workforce programs so the same training doesn't get funded twice. No other state agency may write rules to carry this out, except the Board, which must set procedures for deciding what counts as eligible.
What the bill does
- Creates a new Georgia law defining 'eligible workforce training program' based on the federal Workforce Pell Grant program created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025.
- Gives the Governor, working with the State Workforce Development Board, sole authority to approve eligible workforce training programs in Georgia.
- Requires the Governor and Board to coordinate approvals with other state and federal workforce programs to avoid paying for the same training twice.
- Blocks any other state agency or department from writing rules or regulations to implement this new approval process.
- Requires the State Workforce Development Board to set its own procedures for deciding whether a training program qualifies as eligible.
Who it affects
The Governor's office and the State Workforce Development Board, which gain new approval duties; technical colleges, workforce training providers, and other institutions seeking to offer Workforce Pell Grant eligible programs; and students who may use federal Workforce Pell Grants to pay for short-term training in Georgia.
Why it matters
Whether a training program gets approved determines if students there can use the new federal Workforce Pell Grant to pay for it. Centralizing approval with the Governor and Board, rather than leaving it to multiple agencies, shapes which programs and providers can access this new pool of federal financial aid money in Georgia.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code Section 34-14-6 to Chapter 14 of Title 34, defining 'eligible workforce training program' by reference to Section 8302 of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (P.L. 119-21).
- Subsection (b) requires the Governor, in consultation with the State Workforce Development Board, to approve all eligible workforce training programs and coordinate with other workforce programs to prevent duplicate funding.
- Subsection (c) bars any other state agency or department from adopting rules to implement the section, but requires the Board to set its own procedures for determining eligibility.
- Section 2 repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new provision.
From the bill
“the term 'eligible workforce training program' means a program that is an eligible program for purposes of the Workforce Pell Grant program in accordance with Section 8302 of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, P.L. 119-21, as determined by the State Workforce Development Board.”
“No agency or department of state government shall have the authority to adopt or promulgate any policy, rule, or regulation to implement this Code section”
Discussed in meetings (8)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Higher Education Committee, February 23, 2026
From 1:03:48 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1345 would establish a state approval and oversight process for short-term training programs eligible for the new federal Workforce Pell Grant program. The sponsor described the intended programs as noncredit, industry-recognized training tied to employer demand, particularly for low-income students and adults seeking routes into work outside traditional degree programs. The sponsor said providers would need at least one year of operation, a 70% completion rate, a 70% job placement rate, and graduate earnings meeting a threshold described as 150% above the federal poverty level plus training costs. The sponsor argued that the proposal would help Georgia access federal funding, fill workforce shortages, and connect participants to better-paying jobs. Members deferred questions because of time limits. The chair scheduled further consideration Wednesday, with the bill available for action then. No vote was taken.
House Higher Education Committee, February 25, 2026
From 1:32:16 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair said HB 1345 would align Georgia’s workforce development program with changed federal requirements so funding would be available to the technical college system and State Workforce Development Board. The chair said a related measure was moving through the Senate and that this bill had not changed since its first hearing. With no further discussion, the committee approved it by voice vote, with no opposition heard, and sent it to the Rules Committee.
House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:28:54 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1345 would direct the governor and State Workforce Development Board to identify high-need fields so Georgia could access the new federal Workforce Pell Grant program. The sponsor said funding would become available in July 2026 and argued that participation would connect residents with in-demand careers and strengthen the workforce. No questions or decision followed.
House Rules Committee, March 5, 2026
From 0:45:36 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2013
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 1345 on the floor calendar without opposition. There was no presentation or substantive discussion.
House floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, AM)
From 2:05:46 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2044
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1345 would prepare Georgia for federal Workforce Pell Grant funding expected in July 2026 by establishing approval of eligible short-term training programs through the governor in consultation with the State Workforce Development Board. The sponsor said grants could support non-credit training leading to industry-recognized credentials for low-income students and working adults. The sponsor described performance requirements of at least 70% completion, 70% job placement and earnings exceeding 150% above the poverty level. The sponsor characterized the bill as an implementation measure rather than a new spending program and said timely passage would help Georgia access federal funds. Asked whether completion and job-placement data would be tracked, the sponsor answered yes and said institutions must meet the criteria to receive funds. The House passed the bill 168 to 0.
Status timeline
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)
- Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
- Sandy Donatucci (R, HD-105)
- Matt Reeves (R, HD-99)
- Scott Hilton (R, HD-48)
- Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-34)
Votes
- House voteMarch 6, 2026
168 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 4 excused)
Topics
- workforce training
- Pell Grant
- job training funding
- State Workforce Development Board
- higher education policy