Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB1597: Georgia Dream Expansion and Housing Affordability Act of 2026; enact
Status: In committee, March 27, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to provide for maximum loan amounts for certain home buying assistance programs; to provide for loan structure and forgiveness; to provide for certain qualifications for eligibility; to provide for certain minimum fund allocation; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to provide for maximum loan amounts for certain home buying assistance programs; to provide for loan structure and forgiveness; to provide for certain qualifications for eligibility; to provide for certain minimum fund allocation; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to provide for maximum loan amounts for certain home buying assistance programs; to provide for loan structure and forgiveness; to provide for certain qualifications for eligibility; to provide for certain minimum fund allocation; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Dream Expansion and Housing Affordability Act of 2026." SECTION 2. The General Assembly finds H. B. 1597 LC 62 0506 (2) Rising interest rates and historic increases in home prices have placed the "Georgia Dream" out of reach for a significant portion of the workforce, including, but not limited to, teachers, healthcare workers, and veterans; (3) The current home down payment assistance levels of $10,000.00 to $12,500.00 are no longer sufficient to bridge the affordability gap in a market where median home prices in metropolitan areas exceed $400,000.00; and (4) Providing bold, front-end financial support reduces the long-term need for state subsidized rental assistance and helps stabilize local …
Sponsors
- Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068) · primary sponsor
- Billy Mitchell (D, 88)
- Tremaine Reese (D, 140)
- Clark, Jasmine (D, 108)
- Debra Bazemore (D, 69)
Latest actions
- : House Second Readers
- : House First Readers
- : House Hopper
Common questions
- What is HB1597?
- HB1597 is a bill in the Georgia Legislature (2025-2026 Regular Session): Georgia Dream Expansion and Housing Affordability Act of 2026; enact.
- What does HB1597 do?
- In its own words: To amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to provide for maximum loan amounts for certain home buying assistance programs; to provide for loan structure and forgiveness; to provide for certain qualifications for eligibility; to provide for certain minimum fund allocation; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
- What is the status of HB1597?
- In committee as of March 27, 2026. Latest action: House Second Readers (March 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1597?
- Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1597?
- On the Georgia Legislature website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74373
Source: official Georgia record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.