[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6622757,"mediaKeyId","2781407-811c40a8f4dc59af23f832fff48f2281","parentId",2781407,"title","Late-filed bill would create short-term bridge grants for students awaiting federal aid","audioSeconds",786,"startMs",3674000,"endMs",4460000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781407-811c40a8f4dc59af23f832fff48f2281&start=3674&end=4460","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781407-811c40a8f4dc59af23f832fff48f2281/thumbnail_3674000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622757/Georgia/Late-filed-bill-would-create-short-term-bridge-grants-for-students-awaiting-federal-aid","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622757-400436ad65656c7693ce28f9e556d1b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113937&Signature=hEP5pHJzEasDN2MsbJotZ-xTSsLIUzeqbpkKqnbWvrKKOLN9jQLMi2lDepHRWYHwuGBVnf6hbJ3slSZVoxMKkCcWSpzfoPRYu6CQdYA3zcFbFe6ODjPVmVTRVeLBjtOUHq2-VGSg57mIFutClV3D8WsyvwaaoLuvQi5geKA4FatOjd9Qgq6RJkhx1ldvKUHm1nK3gvZ7zPYH8g0xjnUav7oWYSmnOJRk9Ufc3twMiZljyHNhZrxFiX-d-Svc5V5Yd6Pgo3-cMShxuIOter7rbkr1ekPTjgWyjqMAl82ioJkxX5JiwwMNxSfyNYHn8GWeA9w6oCIQRKX6cKl~Q-~RvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-03-26T18:12:23.467Z","article","Representative Santos presented a substitute for LC 610255S to the House Higher Education Committee proposing a short-term bridge grant to assist students who qualify for federal financial aid but had not received disbursements by the first day of classes.

Santos said the program is intended to help students who are academically eligible but who face an immediate financial shortfall at the start of a term — for example, to purchase books or basic class materials — and would be available to students who qualify for Pell or similar awards. \"This bill aims to provide financial assistance to students that qualify for financial aid, but have not quite received it as of the first day of school,\" Santos said.

During questioning committee members raised several operational questions, including whether the state would reclaim funds after federal payments arrive, how the awards would avoid over-awarding students, the authority that would administer recoupment, and the criteria for how much a student could receive. Santos said she had spoken with Georgia Student Finance Commission staff and that awards would be limited to qualifying students; she described the $5,000 figure as intended to cover substantial first-term costs such as books and course materials based on personal experience in professional school and anecdotal campus data.

Committee members emphasized the need to coordinate with GSFA (or the Georgia Student Finance Commission), institutions’ financial-aid offices, and federal FAFSA processes. Members suggested interim work to clarify recoupment procedures, timelines, whether awards should be issued to institutions or students, and limits on award duration. The sponsor said the aim is for the state award to be deducted against later federal aid so students are not over-awarded, but acknowledged details remain to be worked out.

No vote was taken. Committee leadership urged the sponsor to continue technical conversations during the interim and indicated the proposal will require operational refinements before the committee will advance it.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Higher Education 03.26.25","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Santos presented a substitute bill to authorize temporary grants (up to $5,000) to students who qualify for federal aid but have not yet received disbursement; sponsor and members said logistics — recoupment, administration, and coordination with FAFSA/GSFA — need further work in the interim.","taxTitle","Education, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",16944,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622762,"Committee reviews bill to narrow HOPE scholarship drug disqualification to exclude marijuana",718,3048000,3766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781407-811c40a8f4dc59af23f832fff48f2281&start=3048&end=3766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781407-811c40a8f4dc59af23f832fff48f2281/thumbnail_3048000.jpg","/articles/6622762/Georgia/Committee-reviews-bill-to-narrow-HOPE-scholarship-drug-disqualification-to-exclude-marijuana","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622762-d5f5c8a1aa410058b14d324fc2a0ec3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113937&Signature=Gf7o-m9WXrjPRiJJB7FfHr2TVEwyqbDwz74dUKF4yaPkmu7IZLcKXW9XCbKSAunHmQFGdXnAzAQdcg-zWkNWU2P~EHiF6-cHqmjlBf1Zj7YtBf3ByHSUP1jn3wpgcEhauDdjlL7wuJahCsgp34giCYpwxr66YyTC7FYWiEc4532x8wnRMkiXHHs7jsq0wSTfVbWg8nE76cC6ENiiJnjFeHnjxMiy7TZo2Gy3izq936BQc0un-qCk7nauqwbiMBw1Trc6ed~gYary-UyDIAat7xDqw7G01iwAb2Hfnc-skI1tLrYddgRsJ11-zsRoLB2zZauMPYjEV081gbJcrxZ92w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Bell told the House Higher Education Committee that HB 206 would limit the state’s postsecondary drug-disqualification provisions so that marijuana-related offenses would no longer automatically render a student ineligible for state scholarship aid.

The sponsor said the change tracks a recent federal change to Pell Grant eligibility and that the earlier state statute — described in testimony as the “drug-free postsecondary education act of 1990” — still contained penalties that could disqualify students for certain drug infractions. \"This, as it stands before you today is not to do away completely with the secondary drug act, but to only strict, as you can see online, marijuana as a reason, individual will not lose, the Hope scholarship,\" Representative Bell said.

Bell said he revised the bill after committee concerns about other dangerous substances, such as fentanyl, and he offered the narrower amendment to address those concerns. He described cases in which students lost HOPE scholarships after low-level marijuana offenses, including family anecdotes and examples from prior years.

Several committee members praised the sponsor for narrowing the scope and said they want to coordinate with the judiciary committee and criminal-law experts to ensure the change does not create unintended conflicts with criminal statutes. Vice Chairman Carter suggested working with judiciary to align the educational consequences with any criminal-law adjustments. Members noted language in the bill still addresses manufacture, distribution and sale — activities that the committee said are distinct from simple possession or use.

No formal committee vote was taken. Members said they would continue work in the interim and consult with colleagues in judiciary and the speaker’s office to confirm the bill’s language and legal effects before advancing it.","Representative Bell introduced a bill to amend state law so marijuana offenses would no longer automatically bar students from HOPE scholarship eligibility; sponsors said the proposal mirrors recent federal Pell changes and would retain disqualifications for other controlled substances.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622767,"House panel hears bill to create need-based grants for student meal support",1949,1069000,3018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2781407-811c40a8f4dc59af23f832fff48f2281&start=1069&end=3018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2781407-811c40a8f4dc59af23f832fff48f2281/thumbnail_1069000.jpg","/articles/6622767/Georgia/House-panel-hears-bill-to-create-need-based-grants-for-student-meal-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622767-325f9fb2ae88618528ff0a89e492cea5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113937&Signature=BLDduWeFYk0alzBzy4~52gBCaei7HB6ts9~TCh8dUoiyuVbBS-dKpszVGPoo6cL4xDOF2qrM5wE-QgfHsfrkLdGVh4OqMHBAcfbbzzYcBox7x5UWtck8arks38Zm2czfSPTOkoyQqqcuojvPweEopWou2fD92Xl1yPxVceKh3Vv6QKAtPXiQm0Q~ykk2UKcxGDFH0OQXlSCpO4nxcIoxEcSQnBkn0wT6U1LLCpCswYZhdCnt4-iQRz~SGnPTE34sJF59McgyFK6xhIESEQfP4NeE6np1HjsybwE3H-mS5D1Bo82mqA1WFTMCKMpkzrjVejf4fyyiOt3LyL2BuMmGLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Barry and supporters told the House Higher Education Committee on Thursday that HB 716, the Hunger Free Campus Act, would create a state-administered, need-based grant to help eligible postsecondary students pay for meals.

The bill would direct the Georgia Student Finance Commission to establish a financial aid program that provides grants to eligible students and participating institutions “for the purpose of combating food insecurity amongst post secondary students,” Representative Barry said during the hearing.

Committee members heard data and testimony from nonprofit and campus witnesses who described food insecurity among Georgia college students. Corinne Schooley of Achieve Atlanta told the committee that surveys show roughly one in four college students in Georgia experience food insecurity and recommended that state funds be structured so students can spend awards on “indirect expenses” such as groceries and not only institutional charges. Student witnesses described skipping meals, stretching a single meal across a day, and the difficulty of obtaining groceries when campus cafeterias are closed.

Representative Barry said eligibility in the bill tracks existing state definitions for “economically disadvantaged” and certain scholarship eligibility in code section 23-5-519.1, and would require completion of a FAFSA or evidence of a financial-aid gap. The bill caps the maximum award at an amount “equal to the highest cost meal plan at that school,” Barry said. He also noted the proposal would be “subject to appropriations” and asked for a fiscal note.

Supporters pointed to existing local efforts and similar state programs. Barry cited the University of Georgia’s Every Dog Eats program as a model and referenced other states: “This has also been introduced and passed in Louisiana and has cost Louisiana $2,500,000,” and “Oklahoma … $200,000 of state funds,” he said. Witnesses said institutions often distribute emergency or institutional grants to students and recommended routing funds through colleges to target students with the greatest need.

Committee members asked how awards would be delivered and whether funds would be distributed as part of a financial-aid package, a campus meal card, or a direct payment. Barry and witnesses said those implementation details would be developed during interim work with the Georgia Student Finance Commission and the University System of Georgia. Corinne Schooley recommended ensuring that funds be usable for indirect expenses and that allocations reflect institutions’ shares of Pell-eligible students so they reach campuses serving more students in need.

No vote was taken. Committee members said they would use the interim to work through logistics, including how to avoid over-awarding and how institutions would administer grants if the bill were enacted. Representative Barry said he will continue conversations with USG and the commission over the summer and fall to refine implementation.

If enacted as written, the commission would have discretion over some program details including how students receive awards and whether funds can be accessed outside campus dining services, stakeholders said.

The committee heard roughly a dozen speakers in support of the bill, including representatives of student groups, campus pantries, and nonprofit organizations; several speakers described personal experiences with campus food scarcity and urged the committee to move the bill forward.","Lawmakers heard HB 716, the Hunger Free Campus Act, which would authorize the Georgia Student Finance Commission to establish a need-based grant program to help eligible postsecondary students cover meal costs; sponsors said implementation would be subject to appropriations and further work with institutions is planned.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Late-filed bill would create short-term bridge grants for students awaiting federal aid

Committee reviews bill to narrow HOPE scholarship drug disqualification to exclude marijuana

House panel hears bill to create need-based grants for student meal support