HB1451: HB1451 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

This bill adds a new article to Georgia's community affairs law (O.C.G.A. Title 50, Chapter 8) creating a talent recruitment grant program. The Department of Community Affairs would award grants, subject to available state funding, to local governments and nonprofit organizations whose mission includes economic development, workforce development, or community development. These groups would use the grants to offer incentives to households living outside Georgia to relocate to a Georgia city, county, or consolidated government. Applicants must submit a plan detailing costs, a household relocation goal, expected tax impact, and economic impact, and must cover at least 20 percent of the program's cost themselves. Eligible households must live out of state, earn at least $55,000 a year, and apply directly. Grants are paid in two installments, with the second half withheld unless half the relocation goal is met, and past recipients must have met prior goals to qualify again. The department would write rules to administer the program.

• Creates a new grant program inside the Department of Community Affairs to fund local governments and nonprofits that recruit out-of-state households to move to Georgia.
• Requires grant applicants to submit a talent recruitment plan showing program costs, a household relocation goal, and expected tax and economic impact.
• Requires applicants to contribute at least 20 percent of the program's total cost through local funds or in-kind donations.
• Limits eligible households to those earning at least $55,000 a year who currently live outside Georgia and apply for the incentive.
• Splits grant payments in half, withholding the second half unless the recipient reports meeting half of its relocation goal.
• Requires past grant recipients to have met their prior relocation goal before receiving another grant.

Georgia's Department of Community Affairs, which would run the program; county, city, and consolidated local governments and nonprofit organizations focused on economic or community development, which could apply for grants; and out-of-state households earning at least $55,000 a year who could receive relocation incentives.

If enacted, Georgia communities could use state grant money to compete for new residents from other states, potentially boosting local tax revenue and workforce numbers, while local governments and nonprofits would need to cover part of the program's cost and meet reporting and performance requirements to keep receiving funds.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 50-8-320 defining key terms including household, household goal, local government, and nonprofit organization.
• Section 50-8-321(a) directs the department to create and administer the grant program, subject to state appropriations, for local governments and nonprofits with development-related missions.
• Section 50-8-321(b) requires applicants to submit a plan detailing program costs, household goals, grant amounts per household, and tax and economic impact estimates.
• Section 50-8-321(c) requires grant recipients to fund at least 20 percent of total program costs themselves.
• Section 50-8-321(d) requires semiannual reports on applications, approved households, per-household costs, incomes, and economic impact.
• Section 50-8-321(e) sets household eligibility rules: out-of-state residency, income of at least $55,000, and a direct application.
• Section 50-8-321(f) sets a two-part disbursement schedule tied to meeting half of the stated household goal, and ties future grant eligibility to past performance.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-03House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-02-26House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-25House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-02-24House Hopper (House)

• Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)Primary sponsor
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)
• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
• Joe Campbell (R, HD-171)

• economic development
• relocation incentives
• local government grants
• workforce development
• Department of Community Affairs