House Bill 1174
By: Representatives Draper of the 90th, Park of the 107th, Roberts of the 52nd, Crawford of
the 89th, and Oliver of the 84th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 1 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
general provisions regarding labor and industrial relations, so as to provide retraining and
other support for displaced federal employees; to provide for a definition; to provide for
coordination between the Georgia Department of Labor and the Technical College System
of Georgia and the University System of Georgia; to provide for tuition assistance; to provide
for certain expedited procedures; to provide for coordination between the Georgia
Department of Labor and federal agencies; to amend Chapter 2 of Title 45 of the Official
Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to eligibility and qualifications for office, so as to
provide for the modification of certain hiring procedures for certain displaced federal
employees; to provide for reporting; to provide for a definition; to provide for related
matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for an
effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Federal Workforce Stability and
Reemployment Priority Act."
SECTION 2.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Georgia's economy is significantly affected by the presence of federal workers in
defense, logistics, aviation, public health, and other fields;
(2) Federal government shutdowns, furloughs, and workforce reductions create immediate
economic hardship for affected families and communities;
(3) Ensuring rapid reemployment opportunities and retraining access for displaced federal
employees strengthens Georgia's workforce and provides economic stability;
(4) The state should modify hiring procedures for eligible federal employees and offer
career transition support to eligible federal employees to keep skilled workers in Georgia's
labor market; and
(5) Georgia law creates certain state agency hiring preferences for veterans and should
similarly provide preferences for displaced federal workers, except as otherwise required
by federal law or court order.
SECTION 3.
Chapter 1 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general
provisions regarding labor and industrial relations, is amended by adding a new Code section
to read as follows:
<ins>"34-1-11.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'displaced federal employee' means an individual
who:
(1) Was employed by a federal agency with offices located in this state; and
(2) Lost employment due to a federal shutdown, furlough exceeding 30 consecutive
days, elimination of position, base realignment, or workforce reduction.
(b) The Georgia Department of Labor shall coordinate with the Technical College System
of Georgia and the University System of Georgia to:
</ins>
<ins>(1) Provide displaced federal employees with priority access to retraining programs,
certificates that reflect the acquisition of new work skills, and other career transition
services;
(2) Waive, reduce, or subsidize tuition or program costs where determined permissible
by the Georgia Department of Labor and financially feasible by the Technical College
System of Georgia or the University System of Georgia, respectively, for displaced
federal employees; and
(3) Establish expedited intake and counseling procedures for such individuals.
(c) The Georgia Department of Labor may enter into agreements with federal agencies to
verify eligibility and share transition support data."
</ins> SECTION 4.
Chapter 2 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to eligibility and
qualifications for office, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:
<ins>"ARTICLE 4
45-2-50.
As used in this article, the term 'displaced federal employee' means an individual who:
(1) Was employed by a federal agency with offices located in this state; and
(2) Lost employment due to a federal shutdown, furlough exceeding 30 consecutive
days, elimination of position, base realignment, or workforce reduction.
45-2-50.
(a) State agencies shall modify hiring procedures so as to interview all qualified displaced
federal employees who meet the minimum job requirements for a posted position unless
the agency documents a legally valid operational reason for not doing so.
</ins>
<ins>(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not supersede any federal
or court ordered employment requirements.
45-2-52.
(a) Each state agency shall annually report to the Department of Administrative Services
the number of displaced federal employees who:
(1) Applied for positions within state agencies;
(2) Interviewed for a position within a state agency; and
(3) Were hired for a position within a state agency.
(b) The report provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be filed with the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives by
January 10, 2027, and each January 10 thereafter."
</ins> SECTION 5.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.
SECTION 6.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.