Governor Brian Kemp signed seven pieces of legislation related to higher education Monday, including changes to 529 plan contribution limits.
Among the bills was Senate Bill 556, which Gov. Kemp listed as a legislative priority at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session. The bill will have a variety of impacts on the financial aspects of higher education in Georgia.
SB 556 will increase the contribution cap to 529 plans and will remove the requirement for work-study students in the Georgia Technical College System to make retirement fund contributions.
Additionally, the bill establishes a scholarship program for medical students, which could have a big impact as President Donald Trump's $200,000 cap on federal student loans as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is set to go into effect this summer.
Gov. Kemp also signed Senate Bill 432 at the same time, which will allow Georgia institutions to continue using tuition and other funds until 2030 instead of lapsing annually.
House Bill 1302, or the Education and Workforce Strategy Act, was one of the largest bills for Gov. Kemp as the culmination of his Top State for Talent initiative, which he started with an Act by the same name in May 2025.
The bill "renames the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) to the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy (GOEWS) and empowers the office to coordinate with relevant state agencies on workforce development initiatives," according to a press release from the Kemp Administration.
"In order to be the best state in the country for business and economic growth, Georgia also has to be the Top State for Talent," Kemp said in the release. "Our skilled and highly qualified workforce is a major reason why job creators keep coming to and expanding in our state. Today, I'm proud to sign legislation that further strengthens our workforce so we can remain the best place for opportunity well into the future."
