House higher-education committee advances vet-tech loan forgiveness, sports-betting package and student-conduct measure; key amendments debated

At a committee work day between legislative sessions, the House Higher Education Committee voted to advance multiple measures to the Rules Committee, including a loan‑forgiveness program for veterinary technicians, a constitutional amendment to allow online sports betting, a modified sports‑betting enabling bill with a higher tax rate, and a student conduct measure that passed on an 11‑8 roll call.

The measures affect a range of programs: a targeted loan‑forgiveness program for veterinary technicians, funding proposals tied to online gambling revenue (including a failed effort to add online casino games), revisions to the proposed Georgia Sports Betting Act (including a late tax increase adopted by the committee), and stricter consequences for students convicted of certain disruptive crimes on campus.

Representative Marsh, the sponsor of House Bill 88, told the committee that HB 88 (substitute LC610189S) narrows eligibility to veterinary technicians and establishes loan forgiveness for up to five students — $30,000 per student for a maximum program total of $150,000 — to be administered by the Georgia Veterinary Tech Association. Representative Marsh asked the committee for a favorable report; the committee moved HB 88 forward on a do‑pass motion.

The committee also approved House Bill 217 (substitute LC610210S). The bill, described by its sponsor as a dual‑achievement program, was revised to permit unemancipated minors ages 16–18 to participate while still counting participation toward high‑school graduation requirements; the sponsor asked for a favorable vote and the committee approved the substitute.

A measure described to the committee as correcting a prior technical definition related to university buildings and institutional definitions and addressing access to naloxone was also moved forward (LC610188S). Committee discussion noted the public‑health intent behind the measure; the committee voted to send the item along to Rules with a do‑pass recommendation.

On constitutional questions about gambling revenue,…