24 LC 50 0727
House Bill 1195
By: Representatives Kendrick of the 95
th
, Jackson of the 128
th
, Kelley of the 16
th
, Greene of
the 154
th
, Buckner of the 137
th
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
1
relating to the imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits relative to income2
taxes, so as to provide for a tax credit for workforce-ready graduates employed in high-tech3
full-time jobs in rural counties in this state; to require the Department of Labor to establish4
certain criteria; to provide for conditions and limitations; to provide for definitions; to5
provide for rules and regulations and forms; to provide for related matters; to provide for an6
effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the10
imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits relative to income taxes, is amended11
by adding a new Code section to read as follows:12
"48-7-29.26.
13
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:14
(1) 'Employer' means an enterprise or organization, whether corporation, partnership,15
limited liability company, proprietorship, association, trust, business trust, real estate16
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trust, or other form of organization, and its affiliates, which is registered and authorized17
to use the federal employment verification system known as 'E-Verify' or any successor18
federal employment verification system and is engaged in or carrying on any business19
activities within this state.20
(2) 'High-tech full-time job' means employment:21
(A) That is located in a rural county;22
(B) As a data scientist, software developer, information security analyst, web23
developer, computer sales engineer, information technology manager, computer24
research scientist, network and systems administrator, or computer support specialist;25
(C) Through an employer located in a rural county that is also a small business as such26
term is defined in Code Section 50-5-121;27
(D) That involves a regular work week of 30 hours or more;28
(E) That has no predetermined end date; and29
(F) That pays at or above the average hourly wage of the county with the lowest30
average hourly wage in the state, as reported in the most recently available annual issue31
of the Georgia Employment and Wages Averages Report of the Department of Labor.32
(3) 'Rural county' means a county in this state that has a population of less than 50,00033
with 10 percent or more of such population living in poverty based upon the most recent,34
reliable, and applicable data published by the United States Bureau of the Census. On35
or before December 31 of each year, the commissioner of the Department of Community36
Affairs shall publish a list of such counties.37
(4) 'Workforce-ready graduate' means an individual who has obtained a degree in the38
discipline of engineering or computer, information, or data science within a high-tech39
area of study and who is certified by the Department of Labor as having completed a40
workforce readiness program approved by the Department of Labor in accordance with41
subsection (b) of this Code section.42
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(b) By January 1, 2025, the Department of Labor shall adopt criteria for the establishment43
of workforce readiness programs and the certification of workforce-ready graduates for the44
purposes of this Code section.45
(c)(1) On and after January 1, 2025, each workforce-ready graduate employed in a46
high-tech full-time job for at least 40 weeks during a 12 month period shall be eligible47
for an income tax credit in the amount of $4,000.00 for each such year of employment48
against the tax imposed under this article; provided, however, that no individual shall be49
allowed more than $12,000.00 of tax credits under this paragraph.50
(2) No individual first employed in a high-tech full-time job before January 1, 2025,51
shall qualify to be eligible to receive the credit provided by this subsection.52
(3) No individual shall be eligible to receive the credit provided by this subsection more53
than once.54
(d) In no event shall the credit provided by subsection (c) of this Code section for a taxable55
year exceed the taxpayer's income tax liability. Any unused portion of the credit provided56
by subsection (c) of this Code section shall be permitted to be carried forward and applied57
to the taxpayer's tax liability for the subsequent three years. The credit provided by58
subsection (c) of this Code section shall not be applied against the taxpayer's prior years'59
tax liabilities.60
(e) The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations and forms necessary to61
implement and administer the provisions of this Code section."62
SECTION 2.63
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2024, and shall be applicable to all taxable years64
beginning on or after January 1, 2025.65
SECTION 3.66
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.67
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