HB500: HB500 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Act; increase access to and amount of benefits

Georgia's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program gives cash assistance to low income families with children, but limits it to a lifetime total of 48 months for an adult head of household. Under current law that 48 month clock started running on January 1, 1997. This bill changes the starting date of that lifetime limit to July 1, 2026. The bill also rewrites the rules on how much money and property a family can have and still qualify. It sets the resource limit at $5,000, and says the value of one vehicle used for work, job training, or job searching does not count against that limit. A second vehicle's value, up to $4,650, is also excluded. All conflicting laws are repealed.

• Changes the start date used to calculate the 48 month lifetime limit on TANF cash assistance from January 1, 1997 to July 1, 2026 (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-182).
• Sets the resource (savings and property) limit for TANF eligibility at $5,000 (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-183).
• Excludes the equity value of one vehicle per family from counting as a resource if it is used for work, job training, or job searching.
• Excludes up to $4,650 in equity value of a second vehicle per family from counting as a resource.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these changes.

Georgia families receiving or applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash benefits, especially heads of household who have used or are near the 48 month lifetime limit, and families whose savings or vehicles previously put them over the eligibility threshold.

Resetting the 48 month clock to July 2026 could let families who previously used up their lifetime benefit months become eligible again, while the higher resource and vehicle exclusions mean families with modest savings or a car used for work would no longer be disqualified from getting help.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 49-4-182(b) to change the date the 48 month lifetime cash assistance limit begins counting from, from January 1, 1997 to July 1, 2026.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 49-4-183(b)(3) to set the countable resource limit for applicants at $5,000.
• Section 2 also excludes the equity value of one vehicle used for work, training, or job search, and up to $4,650 of equity in a second vehicle, from being counted as a family resource.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting state laws.

1. 2026-03-06House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
3. 2025-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2025-02-20House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-19House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-18House Hopper (House)

• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)Primary sponsor
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)
• Scott Hilton (R, HD-048)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)

• welfare benefits
• TANF
• public assistance eligibility
• Georgia social services
• family resources limit