Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 1451: Community Affairs, Department of; local governments and nonprofit organizations to incentivize households to relocate from outside this state to local governments in this state; provide
Last action March 3, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported
House Bill 1451 would let the Georgia Department of Community Affairs award grants to local governments and nonprofits that run programs paying households to move to Georgia from out of state.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia currently has no state grant program specifically aimed at recruiting new residents from other states. This bill would create one inside the Department of Community Affairs. Local governments and nonprofit organizations focused on economic development, workforce development, or community development could apply for grants to run 'talent recruitment' programs that offer incentives to out-of-state households willing to relocate to a Georgia local government. Applicants would have to submit a plan detailing costs, a target number of households to recruit, expected tax impact, and expected economic impact, and cover at least 20 percent of the program's cost themselves. Households would qualify only if they live outside Georgia, earn at least $55,000 a year, and apply directly to the grant recipient. The department would pay grants in two installments tied to meeting recruitment goals, and would write rules to administer the program. Funding depends on future state appropriations.
What the bill does
- Creates a new grant program at the Department of Community Affairs to fund local government and nonprofit efforts to recruit households from other states.
- Limits grant eligibility to local governments and nonprofits whose mission includes economic development, workforce development, or community development.
- Requires grant applicants to submit a plan covering program costs, a household relocation goal, and expected tax and economic impact.
- Requires grant recipients to cover at least 20 percent of their program's cost themselves, through local funds or in-kind donations.
- Sets a $55,000 minimum household income requirement for any relocating household to qualify for incentives.
- Splits grant payments in half, releasing the second half only if the recipient meets at least half of its stated household relocation goal.
Who it affects
The Department of Community Affairs, which would run the new program; Georgia counties, cities, and consolidated governments and nonprofit organizations that could apply for grants; and out-of-state households earning at least $55,000 a year who might apply for relocation incentives to move to Georgia.
Why it matters
Communities seeking to grow their workforce or population could get state money to offer relocation incentives to higher-income out-of-state households, but the program only funds recipients who put up their own matching money and meet recruitment targets, and it depends on the legislature actually appropriating funds.
Key provisions
- Code Section 50-8-320 defines key terms including 'household,' 'household goal,' 'local government,' and ties 'nonprofit organization' to the existing definition in O.C.G.A. § 50-18-160.
- Code Section 50-8-321(a) creates the talent recruitment grant program, subject to future state appropriations, open to local governments and qualifying nonprofits.
- Section 50-8-321(b) requires a talent recruitment plan detailing program costs, household goals, per-household grant amounts, and estimated tax and economic impact.
- Section 50-8-321(c) requires grant recipients to contribute at least 20 percent of total program cost, which can include in-kind donations.
- Section 50-8-321(d) requires semiannual reporting on applications, approved households, per-household costs, incomes, occupations, and economic impact.
- Section 50-8-321(e) sets household eligibility: living outside Georgia at application, household income of at least $55,000, and submitting an application to the grant recipient.
- Section 50-8-321(f) splits grant disbursement into two 50 percent payments, withholding the second unless half the household goal is met, and bars repeat grants to recipients who missed their prior goal.
- Section 50-8-321(g) directs the department to write rules and regulations to administer the program.
From the bill
“the department shall create and administer a talent recruitment program for the purpose of awarding grants to incentivize households to relocate from outside this state to a local government in this state”
“Has a household income of at least $55,000.00”
“the department shall disburse 50 percent of the total grant award upon entering into a grant contract and 50 percent of the total grant award upon the local government or nonprofit organization reporting to the department that it has successfully met half of the household goal”
Discussed in meetings (5)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Rural Development Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:59:49 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the proposal would give the Department of Community Affairs authority to create a grant program addressing population and workforce needs, particularly in rural communities. The sponsor said a separate $5 million appropriations request would be needed to fund it. A member asked how the program would affect local governments behind on their audits. The sponsor described the funding requirements but did not directly address audit eligibility: households moving from another state would need at least $55,000 in income, the local community would contribute 20%, and half the grant would be paid initially, with the remainder paid after requirements were met and relocation occurred. The sponsor said the program would help communities attract working, taxpaying residents at less local expense. A Georgia Municipal Association witness supported the proposal as a partnership to attract talent and investment. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote, with the chair stating that no opposition was heard.
House Rules Committee, March 4, 2026
From 1:46:45 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said HB 1451 would create a talent recruitment opportunity for local governments and nonprofit organizations through the Department of Community Affairs, subject to funding. No questions or decision followed.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Katie Dempsey (R, HD-13)
- Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
- Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)
- Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
- Joe Campbell (R, HD-171)
Topics
- economic development
- population growth
- local government grants
- workforce recruitment
- community development