Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB292 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 59 0088
2	2	House Bill 292
3	3	By: Representatives Jones of the 143
4	4	rd
5	5	, McClain of the 109
6	6	th
7	7	, Buckner of the 137
8	8	th
9	9	, Mathiak
10	10	of the 82
11	11	nd
12	12	, Neal of the 79
13	13	th
14	14	, and others
15	15	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	16	AN ACT
17	17	To amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
18	18	1
19	19	relating to imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits from income taxes, so as2
20	20	to provide for the certification of certain employers as living wage employers; to provide for3
21	21	definitions; to provide for a tax credit for such employers that employ individuals in new4
22	22	living wage jobs for at least one year; to provide for conditions and limitations; to provide5
23	23	for penalties; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide6
24	24	for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
25	25	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
26	26	SECTION 1.9
27	27	Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to10
28	28	imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits from income taxes, is amended by11
29	29	adding a new Code section to read as follows:12
30	30	"48-7-40.37.
31	31	13
32	32	(a) As used in this Code section, the term:14
33	33	(1) 'Employer' means an enterprise or organization, whether a corporation, partnership,15
34	34	limited liability company, proprietorship, association, trust, business trust, real estate16
35	35	H. B. 292
36	36	- 1 - 25 LC 59 0088
37	37	trust, or other form of organization, and its affiliates, which is registered and authorized17
38	38	to use the federal employment verification system known as 'E-Verify' or any successor18
39	39	federal employment verification system and is engaged in or carrying on any business19
40	40	activities within this state.20
41	41	(2) 'Living wage job' means employment which:21
42	42	(A) Is located in this state;22
43	43	(B) Involves a regular, full-time work week of 30 hours or more;23
44	44	(C) Has no predetermined end date; and24
45	45	(D) Pays at least $15.00 per hour.25
46	46	(b)(1) Each employer with five or more employees who are all employed in living wage26
47	47	jobs shall be eligible to apply to the Department of Community Affairs for certification27
48	48	as a living wage employer.28
49	49	(2) A living wage employer shall lose its certification if it employs fewer than three29
50	50	individuals who are all employed in living wage jobs or if it employs an individual in any30
51	51	position, whether full time or part time, for which such individual is paid less than $15.0031
52	52	per hour.32
53	53	(3) A living wage employer may advertise its status as a living wage employer.33
54	54	(4) Each living wage employer shall report to the Department of Community Affairs if34
55	55	at any time such living wage employer fails to meet the eligibility requirements for35
56	56	certification as a living wage employer. A living wage employer that violates the36
57	57	provisions of this paragraph may be suspended by the commissioner of community affairs37
58	58	from the certification program and the tax credit created by this Code section for a period38
59	59	of between one and five years.39
60	60	(c) Each living wage employer shall be allowed an income tax credit in the amount of40
61	61	$3,500.00 against the tax imposed under this article for each individual who is first hired41
62	62	by such living wage employer on or after January 1, 2026, and who is employed42
63	63	continuously by such living wage employer in a living wage job for one year, provided that43
64	64	H. B. 292
65	65	- 2 - 25 LC 59 0088
66	66	such living wage employer remains certified as a living wage employer at the time such a44
67	67	living wage employer claims the credit allowed by this subsection.45
68	68	(d)(1) A living wage employer shall only be eligible to receive the credit provided for46
69	69	in subsection (c) of this Code section once per individual.47
70	70	(2) In no event shall the credit provided for in subsection (c) of this Code section for a48
71	71	taxable year exceed the living wage employer's income tax liability. Any unused portion49
72	72	of the credit provided for in subsection (c) of this Code section shall be permitted to be50
73	73	carried forward and applied to such living wage employer's tax liability for the51
74	74	subsequent three years. The credit provided for in subsection (c) of this Code section52
75	75	shall not be applied against such living wage employer's prior years' tax liabilities.53
76	76	(e) The commissioner and the commissioner of community affairs shall promulgate rules54
77	77	and regulations and forms necessary to implement and administer the provisions of this55
78	78	Code section."56
79	79	SECTION 2.57
80	80	This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025, and shall be applicable to all taxable years58
81	81	beginning on or after January 1, 2026.59
82	82	SECTION 3.60
83	83	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.61
84	84	H. B. 292
85	85	- 3 -