---
title: HB 716. Georgia Student Finance Authority; establish a needs based grant program to combat food insecurity among postsecondary students
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb716
cite_as: HB 716, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb716
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb716.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb716/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71102
date: 2025-03-06
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb715.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb717.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb716.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 716
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-03-03
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Bryce Berry
- Kasey Carpenter
- Spencer Frye
- Samuel Park
- Gabriel Sanchez
- Eric Bell
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB716/2025
upstream_id: 1990345
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- college financial aid
- food insecurity
- higher education funding
- student grants
- Georgia Student Finance Authority
---
# HB 716. Georgia Student Finance Authority; establish a needs based grant program to combat food insecurity among postsecondary students
## Text
House Bill 716
By: Representatives Berry of the 56th, Carpenter of the 4th, Frye of the 122nd, Park of the
107th, Sanchez of the 42nd, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to the Georgia Student Finance Authority, so as to establish a needs
based grant program to combat food insecurity among postsecondary students; to provide
definitions; to provide for a maximum award amount; to provide for applications; to provide
for rules, regulations, and procedures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting
laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to the Georgia Student Finance Authority, is amended by adding a new subpart to
read as follows:
"Subpart 2B
20-3-367.
As used in this subpart, the term:
(1) 'Commission' means the Georgia Student Finance Commission created by Code
Section 20-3-233.
(2) 'Eligible postsecondary institution' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code
Section 20-3-519.
(3) 'Eligible student' means a person:
(A) Whose family income is considered economically disadvantaged, based on criteria
established by the commission, or who has a financial aid gap;
(B) Who meets any academic or other standards established by the commission;
(C) Who is eligible for a scholarship or grant pursuant to Code Section 20-3-519.1; and
(D) Who has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
(4) 'Financial aid gap' means the monetary amount remaining after other funding, as
determined by the commission, for the cost of attendance certified by an eligible
postsecondary institution.
20-3-368.
(a) Subject to appropriations, the commission shall establish a needs based financial aid
program to provide grants to eligible students enrolled at an eligible postsecondary
institution for the purpose of combating food insecurity among postsecondary students.
The maximum award per eligible student shall not exceed an amount equal to the highest
cost meal plan of the postsecondary institution attended by such eligible student. The
commission may provide for individualized eligibility criteria and grant amounts as
determined to be the most appropriate for the particular eligible postsecondary institution
and its student population in accordance with this subpart. The commission shall also
establish criteria necessary for eligible students to retain and continue to receive such
grants in accordance with this subpart.
(b) Each eligible student wishing to receive a grant pursuant to this subpart shall submit
a grant application in accordance with the rules, regulations, and procedures prescribed by
the commission. The commission is authorized to define such terms and prescribe such
rules, regulations, and procedures as may be reasonable and necessary to carry out the
purposes of this subpart. In the event a student on whose behalf a grant is paid does not
enroll as a full-time or part-time student for the academic semester for which the grant is
paid, the qualified institution shall make a refund to the commission in accordance with the
rules and regulations of the commission."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would create a new needs based grant program through the Georgia Student Finance Authority to help college students afford food, with grant amounts tied to campus meal plan costs.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia does not currently have a dedicated state grant program aimed at food insecurity among college students. This bill would add a new subpart to the law governing the Georgia Student Finance Authority (O.C.G.A. Title 20, Chapter 3) that creates such a program, run by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.
The program would give grants to eligible students at eligible postsecondary institutions to help combat food insecurity. To qualify, a student generally must be considered economically disadvantaged or have a financial aid gap, meet academic or other standards set by the commission, already qualify for a related scholarship or grant under O.C.G.A. § 20-3-519.1, and have completed the FAFSA. The maximum grant per student would be capped at the cost of the highest priced meal plan at that student's school. The commission would set application rules and criteria for students to keep receiving the grant, and the whole program is subject to the legislature actually funding it. The bill repeals any conflicting laws.
### What it does
- Creates a new needs based grant program inside the Georgia Student Finance Authority aimed at reducing food insecurity among college students.
- Caps each student's grant at an amount no higher than the most expensive meal plan offered by the school they attend.
- Defines who counts as an 'eligible student', including economically disadvantaged status or a financial aid gap, meeting academic standards, existing scholarship eligibility, and completed FAFSA.
- Requires students to submit an application under rules set by the Georgia Student Finance Commission to receive or keep receiving the grant.
- Makes the entire program contingent on the General Assembly actually appropriating (providing) money for it.
- Requires a school to refund grant money to the commission if a student who received a grant does not actually enroll for that semester.
### Who it affects
Postsecondary students in Georgia who face food insecurity or financial aid gaps, especially those already eligible for related state scholarships or grants; the Georgia Student Finance Commission, which would design and run the program; and eligible colleges and universities, which must certify costs and refund unused grant money.
### Why it matters
If funded, the program could give qualifying students direct financial help specifically for food costs while enrolled, on top of existing aid. Because the program depends on future state funding, its actual reach and dollar amounts would depend on budget decisions made separately by the legislature.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 adds a new Subpart 2B to Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20, creating O.C.G.A. §§ 20-3-367 and 20-3-368.
- O.C.G.A. § 20-3-367 defines 'commission', 'eligible postsecondary institution', 'eligible student', and 'financial aid gap' for purposes of the program.
- O.C.G.A. § 20-3-368(a) directs the commission to establish the grant program 'subject to appropriations' and caps awards at the cost of the highest priced meal plan at the student's school.
- O.C.G.A. § 20-3-368(a) allows the commission to set individualized eligibility criteria and grant amounts depending on the specific institution and its student population.
- O.C.G.A. § 20-3-368(b) requires students to apply under commission rules and requires schools to refund grant money if a funded student does not enroll for that semester.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-03-03)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-03-06)
- Sponsors: Bryce Berry, Kasey Carpenter, Spencer Frye, Samuel Park, Gabriel Sanchez, Eric Bell
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71102
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb716.md?full=1