HB1113: HB1113 Georgia Defined Contribution Plan; exclude part-time students from membership

The Georgia Defined Contribution Plan is a retirement savings plan for state workers who are not covered by other public pension systems. Georgia law already excludes full-time students working for an institution from counting as 'employees' eligible for the plan. House Bill 1113 amends the definitions section of the law governing this plan (O.C.G.A. § 47-22-1) so that part-time students are also excluded from the definition of 'employee,' meaning they could not become members of the plan. Because only people who qualify as 'employees' under the law can join the plan, this change would keep part-time students who work for state institutions, agencies, or boards from being enrolled and receiving contributions. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a special effective date beyond standard enactment.

• Amends the definitions section of the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan law (O.C.G.A. § 47-22-1) to add part-time students to the list of people excluded from the definition of 'employee.'
• Prevents part-time students working at a covered institution from being counted as plan members, since only 'employees' can join the plan.
• Leaves the existing exclusion for full-time students, independent contractors, and members of state boards or commissions unchanged.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this new exclusion.

Part-time students who work for the state, the State Board of Education, or the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia while enrolled in classes, along with the state agencies and institutions that employ them and administer the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan.

Part-time student workers at Georgia state institutions who might otherwise have been enrolled in the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan would no longer receive contributions into an individual retirement account through that plan, changing the retirement benefits available to this group of student employees.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 47-22-1(4)(A) so that a person enrolled as a 'part-time or full-time student' at an institution is not considered an 'employee' for plan purposes.
• The definition of 'employee' in paragraph (4) still separately excludes independent contractors and members of state boards or commissions.
• Section 2 repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this change.

1. 2026-02-12House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-02-03House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-02House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-01-29House Hopper (House)

• Carter Barrett (R, HD-024)Primary sponsor
• Charles Martin (R, HD-049)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)

• state employee retirement
• Georgia Defined Contribution Plan
• student workers
• public pensions