SB 429: "Housing for Heroes Act"; enact

Right now Georgia law does not limit how much monthly income a landlord can require of a prospective tenant. Landlords can and sometimes do set income thresholds, such as three or four times the rent, that can be hard for people living on fixed disability benefits to meet. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's landlord-tenant law (O.C.G.A. Title 44, Chapter 7) that caps the income a landlord may require from a disabled veteran at no more than twice the monthly rent. It defines 'disabled veteran' using several categories tied to VA disability ratings, including veterans rated 100 percent disabled, veterans compensated at that level due to individual unemployability, and veterans with specific losses such as loss of a limb or sight. It also defines 'income' as federal adjusted gross income from all sources. The bill does not set an effective date beyond the standard process, and repeals any conflicting laws.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-26) barring landlords from requiring a disabled veteran tenant to show monthly income above twice the monthly rent.
• Defines 'disabled veteran' through several categories tied to VA disability ratings, including 100 percent disability, individual unemployability compensation, and specific service-connected losses like limb loss or blindness.
• Defines 'income' as federal adjusted gross income from all sources, using the federal tax code's definition.
• Names the bill the 'Housing for Heroes Act' for citation purposes.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new income cap.

Disabled veterans in Georgia seeking rental housing, and the landlords and property managers who set income qualification standards for prospective tenants. Veterans who qualify under the bill's disability definitions would gain new protection when applying to rent a home.

Landlords commonly require renters to earn two, three, or more times the monthly rent, which can shut out veterans living on fixed VA disability payments even when they could otherwise afford the rent. This bill would set a lower income bar specifically for qualifying disabled veterans, changing how landlords screen these applicants.

• Section 1 gives the Act its short title, the 'Housing for Heroes Act.'
• Section 2 adds new Code section 44-7-26 to Title 44, Chapter 7, Article 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
• Subsection (a)(1) defines 'disabled veteran' across five categories (A)-(E), largely tied to VA disability ratings, individual unemployability, or specific losses such as limbs, sight, or mobility.
• Subsection (a)(2) defines 'income' as federal adjusted gross income from all sources under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
• Subsection (b) is the operative rule: landlords may not require a disabled veteran to show monthly income exceeding twice the monthly rent to qualify as a tenant.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

1. 2026-01-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-01-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)Primary sponsor
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)

• veterans housing
• landlord tenant law
• disability benefits
• rental income requirements
• housing discrimination