Georgia House bill by author Rep. Jones revising dual achievement program passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill introduced by State Rep. Jan Jones aims to revise Georgia’s dual achievement program by updating eligibility, funding and administration, and removing its automatic repeal, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Thursday, March 19, clearing the House by a vote of 166-0 and the Senate by a vote of 53-0.

The bill, introduced as HB1293 on Thursday, Feb. 12 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Education; updated eligibility requirements for the Dual Achievement Program; provide’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill revises Georgia’s Dual Achievement Program to update eligibility, funding and administration while removing its automatic repeal. It adjusts age and course requirements over time, ultimately limiting eligibility on and after July 1, 2029, to students ages 18 to 22 without a high school diploma who meet admission standards and participate in required wraparound services. The bill replaces earlier participation and QBE funding provisions with a new model in which the State Board of Education transfers a proportional share of QBE and federal funds to the technical college system and, by fiscal 2029, uses a formal funding formula based on enrollment, credit hours, services and outcomes.

In the House, 71 Democrats and 95 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 21 Democrats and 32 Republicans voted in favor, also with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Kasey Carpenter (Republican-4th), Rep. Robert Dickey (Republican-134th), and Rep. Tim Fleming (Republican-114th), along with two other co-sponsors.

Jones graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA.

Jones, a Republican, was first elected to the Georgia State House in 2003 to represent the state’s 47th House District.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday, May 5.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.