Georgia CommonsHB 500: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Act; increase access to and amount of benefits
Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action March 6, 2026 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
The House Committee on Public and Community Health offers the following substitute to HB 500:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 9 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Act," so as to increase the amount of benefits; to revise the income and resources of an applicant that may be considered to determine eligibility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 9 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Act," is amended in Code Section 49-4-182, relating to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program created, by revising subsection (b) as follows:
"(b) Assistance shall be provided in accordance with the state plan and any future amendments thereto. Cash assistance to a recipient who is not a minor child and who is a head of a household or married to the head of a household shall be limited to a lifetime maximum of 48 months, whether or not consecutive, beginning January 1, 1997 July 1, 2026."
SECTION 2.
Said article is further amended in Code Section 49-4-183, relating to administration of article by department, promulgation of rules and regulations by board, and duties of department, by revising paragraph (3) of subsection (b) as follows:
"(3) Consideration of the income and resources of an applicant for assistance in determining eligibility; provided, however, that the resources of an applicant for assistance shall not exceed $5,000.00, provided that the equity value of one vehicle per family shall not be counted as a resource of the family if the vehicle is used for work, training, or education preparatory to employment or job search; provided, further, that an exclusion of the equity value of one additional vehicle up to $4,650.00 is allowed;"
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.