HB 88: State veterinary education; biomedical technicians to be eligible for the state student loan forgiveness program; provide

Georgia already runs a loan purchase program for veterinary students through the State Veterinary Education Board, but it currently does not cover veterinary technicians, the trained support staff who assist veterinarians. This bill adds a new part to state law creating a similar loan purchase program specifically for licensed veterinary technicians. Starting January 1, 2027, veterinary technicians who have practiced for ten years or less and are Georgia residents could apply to have the board purchase up to $30,000 of their student loans. In exchange, they must work full time for three years in a board-approved rural county with 50,000 or fewer residents based on the 2020 census. They earn $10,000 in loan purchases per year of service. The board can accept no more than five new applicants per year, subject to available state funding, and can cancel a contract for good cause. Each recipient may use the program only once.

• Creates a new loan purchase program for licensed veterinary technicians, similar to an existing one for veterinarians, starting January 1, 2027.
• Limits eligibility to Georgia residents who have practiced veterinary technology for ten years or less and only once per person.
• Caps loan purchases at $30,000 per person, paid at a rate of $10,000 per year of qualifying rural service.
• Requires recipients to sign a three-year contract to work full time in a board-approved rural county of 50,000 or fewer residents.
• Limits the board to signing no more than five new loan purchase agreements per year, subject to state funding levels.
• Gives the board authority to cancel a contract for sufficient cause, as long as that power is not used arbitrarily.

Licensed veterinary technicians early in their careers, especially those with student debt; rural Georgia counties with populations of 50,000 or less that need veterinary support staff; and the State Veterinary Education Board, which would administer the new program.

Rural areas of Georgia often struggle to attract veterinary staff. By paying down student loans in exchange for a three-year rural service commitment, the bill creates a financial incentive meant to steer newly licensed veterinary technicians toward underserved rural communities.

• New Code Section 20-3-518.12 defines terms including 'practice veterinary technology' and 'veterinary technology' by reference to existing licensing law.
• Section 20-3-518.13 sets the January 1, 2027 start date and limits eligibility to Georgia residents with ten or fewer years practicing veterinary technology.
• Section 20-3-518.14 caps loan purchases at $30,000 per person, sets the $10,000 per year service rate, and limits the board to five new contracts per year.
• Section 20-3-518.14 also states that unspent or unobligated funds in the loan purchase account lapse at the end of the fiscal year.
• Section 20-3-518.15 requires a three-year signed contract approved by the Attorney General and allows the board to require annual compliance certification.
• Section 20-3-518.15 gives the board authority to cancel a contract for sufficient cause, so long as it is not exercised arbitrarily or unreasonably.

1. 2026-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
3. 2025-03-06House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2025-01-27House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-01-17House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-01-16House Hopper (House)

• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)Primary sponsor
• Karla Drenner (D, HD-085)
• Jasmine Clark (D, HD-108)
• Spencer Frye (D, HD-122)
• Rhonda Burnough (D, HD-077)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)

• student loan forgiveness
• veterinary technicians
• rural health care
• higher education funding