HB 1300 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan Act; raise maximum amount of contributions allowed per beneficiary for savings trust accounts

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-3-634 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to savings trust accounts, availability, and terms and provisions under the "Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan Act," so as to raise the maximum amount of contributions allowed per beneficiary for savings trust accounts for higher education expenses; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC 61 0381/a → LC 61 0517S/hs · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten by the Higher Education Committee to expand its scope from solely increasing 529 plan contribution limits to establishing a comprehensive new scholarship program called DREAMS. This new program creates a dedicated endowment fund to provide up to $3,000 annually to undergraduate students with unmet financial need, while also modifying existing education and tax codes to support these changes.

Scope change

The bill's scope significantly expanded from a single provision regarding 529 plan limits to a multi-section act covering new scholarships, endowment funds, opioid antagonist storage requirements for universities, and changes to HOPE scholarship GPA calculations.

FISCAL

Created a new DREAMS Scholarship Endowment Fund to finance scholarships for students with financial need.

Set the maximum DREAMS scholarship award at $3,000 per academic year, capped by the student's unmet financial need.

ELIGIBILITY

Established eligibility criteria for a new DREAMS scholarship requiring enrollment in at least six hours, a minimum 2.0 GPA, and unmet financial need.

REQUIREMENT

Required scholarship recipients to complete a financial literacy course and engage in paid or unpaid work, including internships or volunteer service.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for terms like 'DREAMS scholarship,' 'eligible postsecondary institution,' and 'unmet financial need.'

SCOPE

Included new provisions requiring institutions to possess opioid antagonists for overdose reversal and modifying GPA calculations for advanced fine arts courses.

Expanded the bill's stated purpose to include amendments to Titles 20, 31, 47, 48, and 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors