---
title: 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
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1451
cite_as: HB 1451, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1451
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1451.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1451/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73614
date: 2026-03-03
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: 185
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1451.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1451
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-24
last_action: House Committee Favorably Reported
sponsors:
- Katie Dempsey
- Leesa Hagan
- Carmen Rice
- Gerald Greene
- Joe Campbell
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1451/2025
upstream_id: 2123579
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- economic development
- population growth
- local government grants
- workforce recruitment
- community development
---
# 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
## Text
House Bill 1451
By: Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Hagan of the 156th, Rice of the 139th, Greene of the
154th, and Campbell of the 171st
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 local governments and nonprofit
organizations to incentivize households to relocate from outside this state to local
governments in this state; to provide for a grant program administered by the Department of
Community Affairs; to provide for eligibility criteria; to provide for rules and regulations;
to provide definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
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.
As used in this article, the term:
(1) 'Department' means the Department of Community Affairs.
(2) 'Household' means one or more individuals who live together within the same
dwelling.
(3) 'Household goal' means the total number of households that a local government or
nonprofit organization seeks to relocate from outside this state to a local government in
this state.
(4) 'Local government' means a county, city, or consolidated government in this state.
(5) 'Nonprofit organization' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section
50-18-160.
50-8-321.
(a) Subject to appropriations, 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. Such grants shall be
awarded to local governments and nonprofit organizations with a stated mission that
includes economic development, workforce and talent development, or community
development.
(b) Local governments and nonprofit organizations applying for such grants shall submit
a talent recruitment plan that includes the following:
(1) The total estimated cost of the talent recruitment program and the individual
estimated costs associated with such program's design, administration, marketing, and
relocation incentive initiatives;
(2) Such program's household goal and the estimated total grant amount per household;
(3) Such program's estimated state and local tax impact; and
(4) Such program's estimated total economic impact.
(c) Local governments and nonprofit organizations applying for such grants shall be
required to demonstrate the ability to contribute at least 20 percent of the total talent
recruitment program cost. Such contribution may include local investments and in-kind
donations.
(d) Each local government and nonprofit organization receiving a grant shall provide
semiannual reports to the department containing the following information:
(1) The total number of household applications;
(2) The total number of approved households;
(3) The costs per approved household;
(4) The annual incomes and occupations of approved households;
(5) The economic impact of the talent recruitment program, including state and local tax
revenue and new consumer spending; and
(6) Verification of eligibility for moved and committed to move households.
(e) A household shall be eligible for talent recruitment program incentives if such
household:
(1) Resides outside of this state at the time the household applies for talent recruitment
program incentives;
(2) Has a household income of at least $55,000.00; and
(3) Submits an application to the local government or nonprofit organization grant
recipient to receive talent recruitment program incentives.
(f) 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 stated in the talent recruitment plan. If the local government or nonprofit
organization fails to meet half of its stated household goal, the department shall not
disburse the remainder of the grant award. In order for a previous local government or
nonprofit organization grant recipient to be eligible for any subsequent grants, such local
government or nonprofit organization shall have met the household goal stated in its prior
grant application.
(g) The department shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be reasonable and
necessary for the administration of this article."
SECTION 2.
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 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.
### Plain-language summary
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 it 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. ยง 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.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-24)
- Last action: House Committee Favorably Reported (2026-03-03)
- Sponsors: Katie Dempsey, Leesa Hagan, Carmen Rice, Gerald Greene, Joe Campbell
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73614
> The history, votes, and amendments (185 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1451.md?full=1