---
title: HB 1449. Georgia Gold Standard Opportunity Grant Act of 2026; enact
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1449
cite_as: HB 1449, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1449
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1449.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1449/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73612
date: 2026-02-26
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1449.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1449
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-24
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Derrick Jackson
- Teddy Reese
- Billy Mitchell
- El-Mahdi Holly
- Sandra Scott
- Inga Willis
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1449/2025
upstream_id: 2123565
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- small business grants
- farm funding
- nonprofit funding
- economic development
- state budget
---
# HB 1449. Georgia Gold Standard Opportunity Grant Act of 2026; enact
## Text
House Bill 1449
By: Representatives Jackson of the 68th, Reese of the 140th, Mitchell of the 88th, Holly of the
116th, Scott of the 76th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
Department of Community Affairs, so as to provide for the creation of a grant program for
small businesses, small-scale farmers, and small nonprofit organizations; to provide for
legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for funding; to provide for annual
review and reporting; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for
an effective date; 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 "Georgia Gold Standard Opportunity Grant
Act of 2026."
SECTION 2.
Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department
of Community Affairs, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:
"ARTICLE 14
50-8-320.
The General Assembly finds that:
(1) Georgia's historic economic surplus is the result of the hard work of its citizens and
should be reinvested into the state's local economic engines;
(2) Small businesses, small-scale farmers, and small nonprofit organizations are often
unable to access traditional capital markets at competitive rates; and
(3) Establishing a bold $1 billion grant initiative will bridge the wealth gap, promote
food security in urban and rural deserts, and strengthen the social safety net provided by
community advocates and faith based engagement.
50-8-321.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) 'Small business' means a business concern as defined in 15 U.S.C. Section 632 and
which adheres to the size standards established by the United States Small Business
Administration.
(2) 'Small-scale farmer' means an individual or entity engaged in the production of
agricultural products, including urban agriculture and community gardens, with a gross
annual cash farm income of less than $500,000.00.
(3) 'Small nonprofit organization' means an organization with an annual budget of less
than $2 million that is:
(A) Exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue
Code;
(B) A faith based organization or church engaged in secular community engagement,
including, but not limited to, food pantries, youth mentorship, and housing assistance;
or
(C) A community advocacy organization dedicated to public interest and civic
engagement.
50-8-322.
(a) There is established the Georgia Gold Standard Opportunity Grant Program to be
administered by the Department of Community Affairs.
(b) The Department of Community Affairs is authorized to prescribe rules, regulations,
and procedures no later than January 1, 2027, as may be reasonable and necessary to carry
out the purposes of this article and shall administer grant funds in accordance with the
provisions of this article.
(c)(1) Subject to appropriations made specifically for the purposes of this article, such
funds shall provide grants for small businesses, small-scale farmers, and small nonprofit
organizations.
(2) Such small businesses, small-scale farmers, and small nonprofit organizations may
apply for an annual grant of up to $50,000.00 to be used for capital improvements,
equipment, operating expenses, and workforce development.
(3) Priority shall be given to small nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a
commitment to serving historically underutilized communities in both urban and rural
areas.
50-8-323.
(a) The Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts in conjunction with the House
Committee on Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight shall conduct an annual economic
solvency review.
(b) In any case where the state's revenue shortfall reserve falls below 10 percent of the
previous year's net revenue, the Department of Community Affairs may temporarily adjust
grant award amounts to ensure the long-term sustainability of grant funds.
50-8-324.
(a) The Department of Community Affairs shall prepare an annual report detailing:
(1) All revenues and expenditures of the grant fund for the previous year;
(2) The status of projects and initiatives supported by the grant fund; and
(3) Recommendations for improvements.
(b) The report provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section shall be submitted to the
Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate by
December 31 of each year and made available on the Department of Community Affairs'
website."
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
House Bill 1449 would create a $1 billion state grant program letting small businesses, small farmers, and small nonprofits apply for up to $50,000 a year, run by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
### Plain-language summary
Georgia currently has no dedicated state grant program aimed specifically at small businesses, small-scale farmers, and small nonprofit or faith-based organizations. House Bill 1449, called the Georgia Gold Standard Opportunity Grant Act of 2026, would add a new article to state law creating the Georgia Gold Standard Opportunity Grant Program inside the Department of Community Affairs.
The bill defines who qualifies: small businesses under federal size standards, farmers (including urban farms and community gardens) earning under $500,000 a year, and nonprofits or faith-based and community advocacy groups with budgets under $2 million. Eligible groups could apply for grants of up to $50,000 a year for equipment, operating costs, capital improvements, or workforce development, with priority for groups serving underserved urban and rural communities. The Department must write program rules by January 1, 2027, submit an annual report to state leaders, and the state auditor's office would review the fund's financial health each year, allowing grant amounts to be reduced if state reserves drop too low.
### What it does
- Creates the Georgia Gold Standard Opportunity Grant Program within the Department of Community Affairs to fund small businesses, small farmers, and small nonprofits.
- Defines eligibility, including farmers earning under $500,000 a year and nonprofits or faith-based groups with budgets under $2 million.
- Allows eligible applicants to receive up to $50,000 per year for capital improvements, equipment, operating expenses, or workforce development.
- Requires the Department of Community Affairs to set program rules by January 1, 2027 and gives priority to organizations serving underserved communities.
- Requires the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts and a House committee to conduct an annual review of the fund's financial sustainability.
- Requires an annual public report on the fund's spending and outcomes to the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President by December 31 each year.
### Who it affects
Small business owners, small-scale and urban farmers, small nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups doing community work like food pantries and mentorship programs, and community advocacy organizations. The Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Audits and Accounts, and a House budget oversight committee would also take on new administrative roles.
### Why it matters
If enacted and funded, eligible small businesses, farmers, and nonprofits could receive up to $50,000 a year in state grants for costs like equipment or operations, potentially easing access to capital that these groups often struggle to find through banks or investors.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 gives the Act its short title, the Georgia Gold Standard Opportunity Grant Act of 2026.
- Code Section 50-8-320 states legislative findings, including a stated goal of a $1 billion grant initiative funded by the state's surplus.
- Code Section 50-8-321 defines 'small business,' 'small-scale farmer,' and 'small nonprofit organization' for purposes of the program.
- Code Section 50-8-322 establishes the grant program, requires rules by January 1, 2027, sets the $50,000 annual grant cap, and directs priority to underserved communities.
- Code Section 50-8-323 requires an annual economic solvency review and allows the Department to reduce grant amounts if the state's revenue shortfall reserve falls below 10 percent of prior year net revenue.
- Code Section 50-8-324 requires an annual report on the fund's revenues, expenditures, and project status, due to state leaders by December 31 each year.
- Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard provision with no independent substantive effect.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-24)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-26)
- Sponsors: Derrick Jackson, Teddy Reese, Billy Mitchell, El-Mahdi Holly, Sandra Scott, Inga Willis
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73612
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1449.md?full=1