HB 867: Georgia Student Finance Authority; grants to eligible students to assist with cost of attending an approved school of barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, hair design, or nail care; establish pilot program

Currently, Georgia does not have a dedicated state grant program specifically for students attending trade schools in barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, hair design, or nail care. This bill would add a new subpart to state law directing the Georgia Student Finance Authority to run a pilot financial aid program for these students. To qualify, a student must be enrolled or accepted at an accredited, Georgia-based approved school, come from an economically disadvantaged family or have a financial aid gap, and already be eligible for a scholarship or grant under an existing state law (O.C.G.A. § 20-3-519.1). Grants would max out at $10,000 total per student, and the commission could not award more than $50,000 total per year. Schools would have to certify student eligibility and refund misused grant money, and the commission would track and evaluate results annually. The program would automatically repeal on July 1, 2028.

• Creates a new pilot grant program at the Georgia Student Finance Authority for students attending approved barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, hair design, or nail care schools.
• Limits eligibility to students who are economically disadvantaged or have a financial aid gap and who already qualify for an existing state scholarship or grant.
• Caps individual grants at $10,000 total per student and limits total annual grants awarded by the commission to $50,000.
• Requires approved schools to refund grant money if a student never enrolls or was wrongly certified as eligible, and allows the commission to suspend noncompliant schools.
• Makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly submit false information to help an ineligible student get a grant.
• Automatically repeals the entire program on July 1, 2028 unless renewed.

Students seeking training in barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, hair design, or nail care in Georgia, especially those from lower-income families; accredited trade schools in these fields, which must certify eligibility and handle refunds; and the Georgia Student Finance Authority, which administers the grants.

Low-income Georgians pursuing careers in the beauty and grooming trades could get up to $10,000 in state help toward tuition, but the total program funding is capped at $50,000 per year statewide, meaning only a small number of students would likely benefit before the program expires in 2028.

• New Code Section 20-3-367 defines key terms including 'approved school,' 'eligible student,' and 'financial aid gap.'
• New Code Section 20-3-368(a) sets the pilot program's per-student cap at $10,000 and total annual cap at $50,000, subject to available state funding.
• Section 20-3-368(b) requires students to apply through commission procedures and requires schools to refund grants for students who never enroll.
• Section 20-3-368(c) makes knowingly submitting false information to obtain a grant a misdemeanor.
• Section 20-3-368(d) lets the commission examine approved schools for compliance and requires refunds or suspension for improperly certified students.
• Section 20-3-368(e) requires the commission to collect data and annually evaluate the program, with cooperation from the Office of Planning and Budget and Department of Education.
• New Code Section 20-3-369 automatically repeals the entire pilot program on July 1, 2028.

1. 2025-03-31House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-03-28House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-03-27House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)Patrocinador principal
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Rhonda Burnough (D, HD-077)
• Billy Mitchell (D, HD-088)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)

• trade school funding
• cosmetology licensing
• student financial aid
• vocational education
• barbering and beauty schools