Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 541: Education; tuition equalization grants; expand definition of an approved school to include certain institutions which offer programs in nursing
Last action July 1, 2026 · Effective Date
House Bill 541 would let certain private, for-profit nursing schools in Georgia qualify for state tuition equalization grants, a benefit currently limited mostly to nonprofit and other approved private colleges.
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 Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia's tuition equalization grant program (O.C.G.A. § 20-3-411) helps Georgia students pay for private college by giving grants to students at schools the state defines as 'approved.' Until now, for-profit (proprietary) schools generally had to meet a narrow set of requirements, including being a general baccalaureate-degree institution accredited a particular way, to count as approved. This bill adds a new category specifically for proprietary schools that offer a bachelor's degree in nursing. To qualify, a school must be accredited by one of two named accrediting bodies plus the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, have graduates pass the national nursing licensing exam at an 80 percent rate over four years, accept Pell Grant eligible students, be reviewed by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, and have had a campus in Georgia for at least ten years as of June 30, 2025. Only the nursing program itself, not the whole school, would count as approved, and it would not become eligible for HOPE, dual enrollment, or other state scholarship programs.
What the bill does
- Adds a new category of 'approved school' under Georgia's tuition equalization grant law for proprietary institutions that offer a bachelor's degree in nursing.
- Requires the nursing program to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or the Higher Learning Commission, plus the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
- Requires a four-year average nursing licensing exam (NCLEX) passage rate of at least 80 percent for the program to qualify.
- Requires the school to have had at least one Georgia campus for at least ten years as of June 30, 2025, and to be reviewed by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.
- Limits the approval to just the nursing degree program, specifying it does not make the school eligible for HOPE scholarships, dual enrollment, or other state grant and loan programs.
- Renumbers existing subparagraphs in the code section to fit the new category and states legislative intent about addressing Georgia's nursing workforce shortage.
Who it affects
Private, for-profit colleges and universities in Georgia that offer nursing degree programs, students enrolled in those nursing programs who may become eligible for tuition equalization grants, and the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, which reviews and approves schools for the program.
Why it matters
Students in qualifying private nursing programs could gain access to state tuition equalization grant money that was previously unavailable to them, potentially lowering their cost of nursing school. The bill ties this expansion to specific quality standards, including licensing exam pass rates, aimed at increasing Georgia's supply of nurses.
Key provisions
- Section 1 states legislative intent that Georgia faces a healthcare workforce shortage, including a need for more high-quality nurses, and that financial assistance can help address it.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-3-411(2) to add a new division (ii) defining a qualifying proprietary nursing school as an 'approved school' for tuition equalization grant purposes.
- The new definition requires accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or the Higher Learning Commission, plus Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation.
- The new definition requires a four-year average NCLEX passage rate of at least 80 percent and at least ten years of physical presence in Georgia as of June 30, 2025.
- The bill specifies that only the nursing degree program, not the entire institution, counts as an approved school, and that this status does not extend to HOPE, dual enrollment, or other scholarship and loan programs.
- Section 2 renumbers existing divisions (ii) and (iii) to (iii) and (iv) to accommodate the new nursing category.
- Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.
From the bill
“A qualified proprietary institution of higher education located in this state which is a baccalaureate degree-granting institution offering a baccalaureate degree program or programs in nursing”
“which has a National Council Licensure Examination four-year average passage rate of at least 80 percent”
“only such institution's baccalaureate degree program or programs in nursing shall be deemed an approved school for the purposes of this subpart”
Discussed in meetings (11)
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 11, 2026
From 0:32:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 541 would make Chamberlain students eligible for tuition equalization grants through narrowly drawn requirements for a private nursing school with physical campuses in Georgia. The sponsor argued that Chamberlain's flexible programs serve working and nontraditional students and help address a nursing shortage without taking students from existing schools. One member raised concern about competition with nearby Clayton State for a limited supply of nursing instructors. Other members asked why the measure covered only this school, what credentials it offered and why its campuses were concentrated near Atlanta. The sponsor said the proposal supported registered-nurse preparation and identified campuses in Sandy Springs and Stockbridge. The chair explained that these grants serve private-school students, unlike budget funding for public institutions. The sponsor cited grant amounts of $367 per quarter or $550 per semester and said 35 schools already participated. The chair clarified that payments go directly to schools on students' behalf. Another member supported the measure as a response to nursing shortages. The committee sent the bill to the Rules Committee with a recommendation to pass by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Rules Committee, February 17, 2026
From 0:53:50 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 666
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would expand Tuition Equalization Grant eligibility to a narrowly defined nursing institution offering a bachelor of science in nursing, with only one institution qualifying. The sponsor said the change would strengthen the nursing workforce and would not make the institution eligible for HOPE, Zell Miller, dual enrollment or completion grants. The sponsor described earlier versions, including one vetoed by the governor, and said the current proposal had been developed with the governor's office. No questions or decision followed.
House Rules Committee, February 18, 2026
From 0:37:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 541 on the day's floor calendar without stated opposition. There was no discussion of its contents.
House floor session, February 18, 2026 (legislative day 20)
From 1:29:45 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 687
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 541 would expand tuition equalization grant eligibility to a narrowly defined nursing school to help address Georgia’s nursing shortage. The sponsor described requirements including a nursing-only bachelor’s degree program, specified accreditation, a four-year average licensing-exam pass rate of at least 80 percent, and a physical Georgia location established for 10 years. The sponsor said Chamberlain University was the only current qualifying school and had campuses in Sandy Springs and Stockbridge. Citing a projected shortage of 25,000 registered nurses in 2038, the sponsor said the three-year program would help working and second-career students. The sponsor described grants of $367 per quarter or $550 per semester. One member praised the sponsor’s persistence over seven sessions. Another asked whether the bill would affect Clayton State University’s nursing program; the sponsor said it would complement that program. A third member cited nursing needs associated with a $250 million expansion at Piedmont Henry. The House adopted the committee substitute without objection and passed the bill 167 to 1.
Senate Higher Education Committee, March 17, 2026
From 0:44:41 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 541 would expand tuition equalization grant eligibility through provisions narrowly tailored to Chamberlain's nursing program. The sponsor described a year-round, three-year bachelor's program serving many parents and students entering a second career. The sponsor said qualifying schools must have a physical campus and at least an 80% licensing-exam passage rate. Citing a projected shortage of 25,000 registered nurses in 2038, the sponsor argued the grants would support nurse training and ease students' household and transportation costs. The sponsor said Chamberlain had more than 400 licensing-exam candidates in 2024 and 331 in 2025. No substantive questions or amendments were offered. The committee unanimously recommended passage.
Senate Rules Committee, March 19, 2026
From 0:23:33 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would allow one school offering only bachelor's degrees in nursing to qualify for tuition equalization grants. The sponsor described the measure as narrowly written and said this was the seventh attempt. No substantive questions followed. The committee later unanimously included it in the floor calendar.
Senate floor session, March 20, 2026 (legislative day 35)
From 3:57:24 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said HB 541 would allow Chamberlain University to participate in tuition equalization grants to help address Georgia's nursing shortage. The presenter described the university as a physical-campus school producing registered nurses and said it had the second-highest number of nurses passing the state board. No questions or opposing speeches followed. The Senate passed the bill 45-1.
- Read aloud: House floor session, February 12, 2026 (legislative day 18), 0:59:53
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 19, 2026 (legislative day 21), 0:32:52
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 0:31:49
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34), 0:43:30
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 470
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
Show full history (17 actions)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Katie Dempsey (R, HD-13)
- Sharon Cooper (R, HD-45)
- Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
- Brian Prince (D, HD-132)
- Lee Hawkins (R, HD-27)
- Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
Votes
- House voteFebruary 18, 2026
167 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 7 excused)
- Senate voteMarch 20, 2026
45 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 6 excused)
Topics
- nursing education
- tuition equalization grants
- private colleges
- healthcare workforce
- higher education funding