SR978: SR978 Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Funding; create

State money for the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia is handed out in lump sums that the Board of Regents and the State Board of the Technical College System then divide among schools using funding formulas based mainly on student enrollment. This resolution says those formulas are decades old and may not reflect changes like online education or declining enrollment, and that rewarding enrollment rather than student outcomes such as graduation could create bad incentives. To look into this, the resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Funding, made up of six senators appointed by the President of the Senate, who also names the chairperson. The committee can hold meetings, bring in experts on education funding, and recommend legislation. Members get standard legislative allowances for up to five days unless more are approved, paid from Senate funds. The committee must file any approved report before it is abolished on December 1, 2026.

• Creates the Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Funding, made up of six senators appointed by the President of the Senate.
• Directs the committee to study the funding formulas used for the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia and recommend changes.
• Allows the committee to hold meetings and call on experts in education funding to help with its review.
• Sets legislative allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8 for members, capped at five days unless additional days are authorized, funded through the Senate's budget.
• Requires any approved findings or recommended legislation to be filed as a report before the committee is abolished.
• Abolishes the committee automatically on December 1, 2026.

The six senators appointed to the committee, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, and by extension students and administrators at Georgia's public colleges and technical colleges whose funding formulas would be reviewed.

If the committee's review leads to changes in how the state distributes money to colleges and technical schools, that could affect how much funding individual campuses receive, especially those facing enrollment declines, and could shift the state's focus from enrollment numbers toward student outcomes like graduation.

• Paragraph (1) creates the Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Funding.
• Paragraph (2) sets committee membership at six senators chosen by the President of the Senate, who also appoints the chairperson.
• Paragraph (3) directs the committee to study current funding formulas and recommend action or legislation as needed.
• Paragraph (4) lets the chairperson call meetings and the committee consult outside experts on education funding.
• Paragraph (5) sets member allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28-1-8, capped at five days absent extra authorization, funded by Senate appropriations.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved report or minority report to be filed with the Secretary of the Senate before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2026.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2026-03-19Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2026-03-18Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Max Burns (R, SD-023)Primary sponsor
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Consent Calendar For Senate Study Committees: Senate Vote #875

• higher education funding
• University System of Georgia
• Technical College System of Georgia
• legislative study committees