College Completion Grants

In higher education, HB 249 passed but was unfortunately vetoed by the Governor after session. This legislation would have lowered the threshold of courses that students need in order to access completion grants and finish their degree. Under HB 1435, which passed last year, individuals must have completed 80 percent of their degree requirements. HB 249 would have lowered that threshold to 70 percent for individuals in a four-year program and 45 percent for individuals in a two-year program. HB 249 would have also raised the maximum award per eligible student to $3,500. This bill would have reduced financial barriers to Georgia students completing degrees, thus enhancing their economic opportunities. GBPI will continue advocating for expanded opportunity for Georgia students in the 2024 Legislative Session and beyond.

Medicaid Five-Year Wait for Immigrants Lifted

HB 19, the FY24 budget legislation, directs the Department of Community Health to amend the Medicaid state plan and remove the five-year waiting period for Medicaideligible pregnant women and children who are lawful permanent residents (LPRs). Removing this waiting period will help more of Georgia’s vulnerable children and families access health care and decrease the number of uninsured children. During a time when Georgia faces staggering maternal mortality rates and a recent upswing in infant mortality rates, this small investment will have a critical impact. Non-U.S. citizens are much more likely to lack health insurance, and often delay or go without needed care. This phenomenon can worsen health outcomes and result in more expensive and complex treatment over time.

TANF Family Cap Lifted and Eligibility Expanded

The General Assembly made some positive steps toward economic security by passing HB 129. The bill expands Temporary Aid to Needy Families

(TANF) access to pregnant women and eliminates the TANF family cap, which denied families an incremental increase in the benefit if they had another baby while enrolled in the program. This provision was one of TANF’s many features rooted in historical racism and sexism.

Stability is critical to child development. When paired with other economic supports like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) food assistance, TANF cash assistance can provide some stability to families experiencing crisis and deep poverty It also provides additional support to a relative who steps up to care for a child. While other programs like SNAP and Medicaid help families meet their nutritional and health care needs, cash assistance through TANF helps very low-income families afford diapers, wipes, car seats and similar needs. Eliminating the TANF family cap is an important step to undo polices based on racist assumptions of Black mothers experiencing poverty