Rep. Scott Hilton’s Legislation Expanding HOPE GPA Eligibility for AP Fine Arts Courses Signed into Law as Part of Education and Workforce Development Legislative Package

ATLANTA - State Representative Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), chairman of the House Information and Audits Committee, today announces that Governor Brian Kemp has signed Senate Bill 556 into law, a legislative package aimed at expanding access to higher education, strengthening workforce development and enhancing student financial aid programs across Georgia. Included in the legislation is a provision sponsored by Chairman Hilton that expands the Georgia HOPE Scholarship GPA calculation to include Advanced Placement (AP) Fine Arts courses.

"Making higher education more affordable for Georgia families has always been one of my top priorities, and I am proud to see that goal advanced through this legislation," said Chairman Hilton. "By ensuring that AP Fine Arts courses count toward a student's HOPE GPA, we are recognizing the academic rigor of these courses and giving students who pursue the arts a fair opportunity to qualify for critical scholarship support. This is a meaningful step forward in expanding access, reducing barriers and strengthening pathways to higher education for students across our state."

In addition to allowing AP Fine Arts courses to count towards a student's HOPE GPA, SB 556 also codifies the Georgia DREAMS Scholarship program under the Georgia Student Finance Commission, establishes a new scholarship program for medical students and includes additional provisions affecting higher education and financial aid administration.

The bill further modernizes several student support and financial management policies, including adjustments to 529 Plan contribution limits and tax incentives, updates to retirement contribution requirements for part-time work-study students at Technical College System of Georgia institutions and requirements related to opioid antagonist availability on college campuses when community funding is available. It also revises reserve requirements for Georgia Lottery funds to strengthen long-term financial stability for education programs supported by lottery proceeds.

The full text of SB 556 may be found here.

Representative Scott Hilton represents the citizens of District 48, which includes portions of Fulton and Gwinnett counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and re-elected in 2022 and 2024 and currently serves as the Chairman of the Information and Audits Committee and as Secretary of the Education Committee. He also serves on the Public and Community Health, State Properties and Ways & Means committees.

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