Georgia CommonsHB 203: Board of Regents; include members who are graduates of a historically black college or university that is a unit of the University System of Georgia; provide
Last action February 4, 2025 · House Second Readers
House Bill 203 would require Georgia's Board of Regents to include at least one, and later two, members who graduated from a historically black college or university within the University System of Georgia.
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 LegiScan holds.
In plain language
The Board of Regents oversees Georgia's public colleges and universities. This bill adds a new section to Georgia law requiring that some of the board's at-large members have graduated from a historically black college or university (HBCU) that is part of the University System of Georgia. The bill defines an HBCU using federal eligibility standards (34 C.F.R. Section 608.2) as they existed on January 1, 2025, combined with the requirement that the school be a University System of Georgia unit. Starting January 1, 2028, at least one at-large board member must be a graduate of such an institution. Starting January 1, 2031, that number rises to at least two at-large members. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not change any other part of the Board of Regents' structure or duties.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 20-3-21.1) requiring representation on the Board of Regents from graduates of historically black colleges or universities in the University System of Georgia.
- Defines 'historically black college or university' using federal eligibility standards in effect as of January 1, 2025, limited to schools that are units of the University System of Georgia.
- Requires at least one at-large board member to be an HBCU graduate starting January 1, 2028.
- Increases that requirement to at least two at-large board members starting January 1, 2031.
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these new requirements.
Who it affects
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, future appointees to at-large board seats, and graduates of Georgia's historically black colleges and universities such as Albany State, Fort Valley State, and Savannah State, whose alumni would gain a guaranteed path onto the board.
Why it matters
If enacted, the makeup of the board that sets policy for Georgia's public universities and colleges would change, guaranteeing HBCU graduates a voice in decisions on tuition, campus policy, and system leadership starting in 2028, with representation increasing further in 2031.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code section 20-3-21.1 defining 'historically black college or university' by reference to federal regulation 34 C.F.R. Section 608.2 as of January 1, 2025, and requiring the school be part of the University System of Georgia.
- Section 1 requires at least one at-large Board of Regents member to be an HBCU graduate beginning January 1, 2028.
- Section 1 raises that requirement to at least two at-large members beginning January 1, 2031.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting state laws.
From the bill
“Beginning January 1, 2028, at least one at-large member of the board shall be a graduate of a historically black college or university.”
“Beginning January 1, 2031, at least two at-large members of the board shall be graduates of a historically black college or university.”
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Floyd Griffin (D, HD-149)
- Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
- L.C. Myles (D, HD-126)
- Mack Jackson (D, HD-128)
- Al Williams (D, HD-168)
- Regina Lewis-Ward (D, HD-115)
Topics
- higher education
- Board of Regents
- historically black colleges and universities
- University System of Georgia