Senate bill would extend university and technical college ‘strategic reserves’ authority

Senate Bill 432, carried to the committee as LC610395S, would extend a practice first authorized in 2003 that allows the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System to carry forward portions of unspent non‑appropriated revenues — such as tuition receipts, fees and outside grants — from one fiscal year to the next, subject to statutory caps and limits.

Sponsor remarks to the House Higher Education Committee noted the measure would not allow institutions to carry forward state appropriations. The sponsor said the university system’s carry‑forward authority historically has helped institutions manage long‑term projects and unexpected capital costs, and he cited examples such as parking‑deck projects and HVAC systems. He told the committee the practice has been reauthorized multiple times and that the bill would extend the existing sunset that currently expires on 06/30/2026 by five years.

Committee members asked whether routine legislative oversight would continue under the extension; the sponsor said the sunset requires the General Assembly to review the practice periodically and provides accountability for appropriators. The sponsor also explained the provision allowing institutions to write off small, de‑minimis student debts after reasonable collection efforts (the sponsor cited a $3,000 threshold in committee remarks), which he said helps colleges 'clean up their books' rather than spending disproportionate resources chasing small amounts.

The committee considered a motion by Governor’s floor leader Matthew Gamble to give SB 432 a due‑pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. With a second and no discussion recorded, the panel approved the motion by voice vote and sent the bill forward with the committee’s due‑pass recommendation.

The committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript; the action in committee was a voice vote with ayes recorded and no opposition announced. The measure will move to the Rules Committee for further consideration.