Georgia House bill by author Rep. Wade revising University of North Georgia military scholarship rules passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Will Wade aims to expand and revise nomination and selection rules for University of North Georgia military scholarships following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Wednesday, March 25, clearing the House by a vote of 172-0 and the Senate by a vote of 48-0.

The bill, introduced as HB1328 on Tuesday, Feb. 17 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’University of North Georgia military scholarships; authorize selection committee to select additional scholarship recipients’.

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

In essence, this bill revises rules for the University of North Georgia military scholarships by expanding how many candidates can be nominated and selected and setting new limits and selection criteria. It directs the state authority to establish eligibility and award standards and to nominate at least six but not more than 10 candidates per congressional district each year, with at least three recipients chosen from each district. It authorizes the selection committee, subject to available funding, to award additional scholarships up to the lesser of 70% of Georgia Army National Guard cadets at the university or 210 students, and instructs the committee to distribute these awards as evenly as practicable among districts and cadet cohorts.

In the House, 76 Democrats and 96 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 18 Democrats and 30 Republicans voted in favor, also with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Carter Barrett (Republican-24th), Rep. Josh Bonner (Republican-73rd), and Rep. Matt Dubnik (Republican-29th), along with three other co-sponsors.

Wade graduated from the University of North Georgia in 2001 with a BA.

Wade, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 9th House District, replacing previous state representative Kevin Tanner.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday, May 11.

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.