HB1328: HB1328 University of North Georgia military scholarships; authorize selection committee to select additional scholarship recipients

Georgia law sets up a scholarship program for Georgia Army National Guard cadets at the University of North Georgia, nominated by members of the General Assembly from each of Georgia's congressional districts. Under current law, the state authority nominates a set number of candidates per district, and a selection committee picks three from each district to receive scholarships. House Bill 1328 increases the number of nominees the authority must select each year to between six and ten per congressional district, up from the prior range. It also lets the selection committee, if funding allows, award scholarships to additional candidates beyond the standard three per district, as long as the total number of scholarship recipients statewide does not exceed 70 percent of the Georgia Army National Guard cadets enrolled at the university or 210 people, whichever number is smaller. When picking these extra recipients, the committee must try to spread the awards evenly across congressional districts and cadet class years.

• Raises the number of scholarship candidates the state authority must nominate each year to between six and ten per congressional district.
• Allows the selection committee, when funding is available, to award scholarships to additional candidates beyond the usual three per district.
• Caps total scholarship recipients statewide at whichever is less: 70 percent of Georgia Army National Guard cadets enrolled at the University of North Georgia, or 210 people.
• Requires the committee to try to distribute any extra scholarships equally across congressional districts and cadet cohorts.
• Keeps the existing rule letting the committee pick at-large candidates if a district lacks three qualified nominees.

Georgia Army National Guard cadets enrolled at the University of North Georgia who seek military scholarships, members of the General Assembly who nominate candidates, the state scholarship authority, and the selection committee that awards the scholarships.

More cadets could receive scholarship funding each year if money is available, since the committee gains authority to go beyond the current three-per-district limit. The new statewide cap sets a clear ceiling on how many cadets can benefit at once.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-3-422 to require the authority to nominate not less than six and not more than ten persons per congressional district, up from the prior range, by February 1 each year.
• Section 1 keeps the rule that at least three nominees per district must be selected as scholarship recipients.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-3-423(b) to let the selection committee award scholarships to additional candidates beyond the standard three per district, subject to available funding.
• Section 2 caps total scholarship recipients at 70 percent of enrolled Georgia Army National Guard cadets at the University of North Georgia or 210 people, whichever is less.
• Section 2 requires the committee to distribute additional scholarships as equally as practicable between congressional districts and cadet cohorts.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 469
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Will Wade (R, HD-009)Primary sponsor
• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)
• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-024)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2026

   172 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #653

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 4 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #814

• military scholarships
• University of North Georgia
• Georgia Army National Guard
• higher education funding