SB429: SB429 "Housing for Heroes Act"; enact

Currently, Georgia landlords can set income requirements for prospective tenants without a specific cap tied to disability status for veterans. This bill would add a new section to Georgia's landlord and tenant law (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-26) limiting how much monthly income a landlord can require from a disabled veteran applying to rent housing. The bill defines 'disabled veteran' using several categories tied to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability ratings, including veterans rated 100 percent disabled, veterans compensated at the 100 percent level due to inability to work, and veterans with specific service-connected losses such as blindness or loss of limbs. It also defines 'income' as federal adjusted gross income from all sources. Under the bill, a landlord could not require a disabled veteran to show monthly income greater than twice the monthly rent in order to qualify as a tenant. The bill gives itself the short title 'Housing for Heroes Act' and repeals any conflicting laws.

• Creates a new Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 44-7-26) capping the income a landlord can require from a disabled veteran tenant at twice the monthly rent.
• Defines 'disabled veteran' by reference to specific VA disability ratings, including 100 percent disability, individual unemployability compensation, and named service-connected losses like blindness or limb loss.
• Defines 'income' as federal adjusted gross income from all sources, tying the cap to a specific, existing tax concept.
• Gives the Act the short title 'Housing for Heroes Act' for citation purposes.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with the new income cap.

Disabled veterans in Georgia who are renting or applying to rent housing, and landlords across the state who screen tenants using income requirements, since they would face a new limit on how strict those requirements can be for qualifying disabled veterans.

Disabled veterans who might otherwise be turned down for an apartment because their income doesn't meet a landlord's usual multiple of rent would have a lower bar to clear, potentially making it easier for them to secure housing in Georgia's private rental market.

• Section 1 gives the bill the short title 'Housing for Heroes Act.'
• Section 2 adds new Code section 44-7-26, defining 'disabled veteran' across five categories (A through E) tied to VA disability ratings and specific service-connected conditions.
• Section 2 also defines 'income' as federal adjusted gross income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, from all sources.
• Section 2(b) prohibits landlords from requiring a disabled veteran to have monthly income more than twice the monthly rent to qualify as a tenant.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting state 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 rights
• rental income requirements