GA HB172

Increases maximum veterinary student loan forgiveness from $80,000 to $90,000 per person for veterinarians practicing in rural Georgia counties

Raises annual loan purchase rate from $20,000 to $30,000 per 12 months of service in approved rural locations

Expands eligible county population threshold from 35,000 to 50,000 residents, based on the 2020 census instead of 2010

Limits eligibility to food animal specialty veterinarians who have been practicing for ten years or less

Requires a three-year consecutive contract term, with recipients limited to receiving the award once per lifetime