By Joseph-Emery Kouaho, Ph.D.
In January, Kindred Futures published a legislative playbook, “Now Is The Time,” comprising a set of policy initiatives aimed at institutionalizing wealth creating mechanisms for families who have been systemically excluded from accessing wealth-building tools. The policy priorities were informed by Kindred Futures’ R3 Framework,1 (Repair, Resilience, and Revenue) and were crafted to spark policy movement at the municipal and state levels.2
With a quarter of the year gone, and state legislative sessions underway, we provide a synopsis of the legislation we have been monitoring across the Southern legislatures that are currently in session.3 Across the Southern states we’re tracking—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Mississippi—several clear legislative battle lines emerge. The major policy fights center on expanding or constraining pathways to economic security, particularly for Black households. States are advancing competing approaches to housing affordability and land ownership, including community land trusts, land banks, rent stabilization authority, and protections for heirs’ property. At the same time, lawmakers are grappling with how to regulate the rapid growth of data centers and high‑demand industries to prevent residential customers from subsidizing industrial energy costs and to strengthen environmental and infrastructure oversight.
Several states are also pushing significant reforms on medical debt relief and healthcare access, including limits on interest, curbs on predatory debt collection, and proposals for more expansive public healthcare systems. Additional battles involve worker and family economic supports, such as paid leave and minimum wage proposals, contrasted with efforts to restrict safety‑net access through tightened eligibility rules for programs like SNAP. Finally, states are debating tax restructuring, including proposals to eliminate income tax, which would shift revenue burdens and have broad implications for equity. Taken together, these themes illustrate a South in which legislatures are actively shaping the economic conditions that determine whether families can build and sustain wealth.
The bills we highlight include relevant information pertaining to the following: where it was introduced, the issue(s) addressed, the latest action, and Kindred’s position on how they impact the opportunities to build Black wealth for the two million households across the South that have zero or negative net worth.4
ALABAMA
The Alabama state legislative session convenes from January 13th to April 27th, 2026, in Montgomery, Ala. Currently, the Republican party holds a majority in both the House and Senate, with 76 (Republicans) to 29 (Democrats) in the House of Representatives, and 27 (Republicans) to 8 (Democrats) in the Senate.5 Table 1 outlines the key proposals that we have been monitoring.
Table 1: Alabama Proposals
| Bill Number | Bill Summary | Latest Action | Latest Action Date |
| AL HB 402 | This bill creates local land bank authorities; shortens tax sale redemption period; restrictions on geographic scope; creation of multijurisdictional land banks by agreement; Governor’s emergency authorization to create land bank. The bill aims to help communities more efficiently acquire, manage, and redevelop tax-delinquent and blighted properties. | Read for the First Time and Referred to The House Committee on Fiscal Responsibility | 02/05/2026 |
| AL HB 404 | This bill authorizes Class 1 municipalities in Alabama (the state’s largest cities, essentially Birmingham) to create nonprofit community land trusts (CLTs) aimed at providing long-term affordable housing for low-income and moderate-income families. | Heard in the County and Municipal Government Standing Meeting | 02/25/2026 |
| AL HB 501 | This bill authorizes the City of Prichard to create self-help business improvement districts where businesses can collectively fund local improvements and services through special assessments (up to 4% of gross revenue). Formation requires 60% business owner support, City Council approval, and public hearings. Districts are managed by business owners’ associations and can operate for up to 10 years, with provisions for renewal, modification, and dissolution. |
Read for the First Time and Referred to the House Committee on Mobile County Legislation | 02/24/2026 |
| AL SB 270 | The bill is a consumer protection measure aimed at ensuring that the growing demand from large data centers (likely driven by AI and cloud computing expansion) does not shift costs onto ordinary ratepayers, and that such contracts deliver tangible benefits to the broader customer base |
Hearing scheduled in the Transportation, Utilities, and Infrastructure Standing Meeting | 03/17/2026 |
Source: Plural
FLORIDA
The Florida legislative session convenes from January 13th to March 13th, 2026, in Tallahassee, Fla. Republicans hold a majority both in the House of Representatives (84 Republicans to 33 Democrats) and the Senate (27 Republicans to 11 Democrats).6 Table 2 provides a synopsis of key legislative proposals.
Table 2: Florida Proposals
| Bill Number | Bill Summary | Latest Action | Latest Action Date |
| FL HB 675 | This bill strengthens affordable housing requirements by ensuring incentives are used for construction, extending affordability commitments, tightening eligibility criteria, and providing tax relief to first-time homebuyers. | In Ways and Means Committee | 2/2/2026 |
| FL HB 1271 | This bill strengthens affordable housing requirements by ensuring incentives are used for construction, extending affordability commitments, tightening eligibility criteria, and providing tax relief to first-time homebuyers. |
In Insurance and Banking subcommittee | 01/15/2026 |
| FL HB 1489 | This bill, titled the “Healthy Florida Act,” proposes two major healthcare reforms; creates comprehensive protections for patients dealing with medical debt from large healthcare facilities; and creates a comprehensive state-run universal healthcare system. |
Now in Healthcare Facilities and Systems Subcommittee | 01/15/2026 |
| FL SB 484 |
The bill aims to increase transparency, ensure data centers bear their full infrastructure costs, protect against foreign control, preserve local government authority, and safeguard water resources. |
Passed, third reading house | 03/11/2026 |
| FL SB 1222 | Medical Debt; Defining the terms “medical debt collector” and “medical debt creditor”; prohibiting medical debt creditors and medical debt collectors from engaging in specified activities to collect medical debt; specifying limitations on the amount of interest a debtor may be charged for medical debt; providing that certain debtors may not be charged any interest or late fees on their medical debt, etc. | Introduced | 1/13/2026 |
Source: Plural
GEORGIA
The Georgia legislative session convenes from January 12th to April 6th, 2026, in Atlanta Ga. The Republican party in Georgia holds a majority of seats in both the House of Representatives (99 Republicans to 79 Democrats) and the Senate (32 Republicans to 23 democrats7Table 3 summarizes some key legislative proposals in Geogia.
Table 3: Georgia Proposals
| Bill Number | Bill Summary | Latest Action | Latest Action Date |
| GA SB 410 | This bill protects residential electricity customers from costs associated with serving large industrial customers (100+ megawatts) by requiring utilities to include cost-recovery provisions in contracts, while simultaneously eliminating tax breaks for new high-tech and data center equipment purchases (though existing exemptions are preserved). |
Passed Senate (03/06/2026) Now with House Second Readers |
03/10/2026 |
| GA SB 463 | This bill proposes to restrict corporate ownership of single-family residential properties in Georgia through ownership limits, foreign investment prohibitions, and tax penalties. |
Passed Senate (03/03/2026) Now with House Second Readers |
03/06/2026 |
| GA HB 947 |
This bill significantly tightens SNAP eligibility requirements, verification processes, and work requirements in Georgia, while expanding fraud investigation capabilities and limiting state flexibility to provide broader eligibility than federal minimums require. |
Passed House (03/06/2026) Senate Read and Referred |
03/09/2026 |
| GA HB 1063 | This bill requires electric utilities in Georgia to include specific protective contract terms when serving large data centers (100+ megawatts) to ensure that residential and retail electricity customers do not subsidize the costs of data center construction and operation. The provisions apply only to future contracts and are enforced by the state Public Service Commission. |
Passed House (02/17/2026) Now Senate read and referred |
02/18/2026 |
| GA HB 1118 | This bill proposes to establish paid maternal birth leave for certain Georgia state and local education agency employees. |
Passed House (03/04/2026) Now Senate Read and Referred |
03/06/2026 |
| GA HB 61 | This bill dramatically accelerates the removal of unauthorized occupants from property by creating expedited administrative and law enforcement procedures that bypass traditional court eviction processes, while adding significant criminal penalties for squatting-related fraud. | Senate committee favorably reported by substitute | 02/03/2026 |
| GA HB 295 | This bill would provide procedures for real property owners to make claims for compensation from local governments for loss of property value or expenses incurred due to the local government’s failure to comply with or nonenforcement of certain laws, ordinances, and resolutions or due to the local government maintaining a public nuisance; and for other purposes. |
Passed House (03/04/2026). | Senate Read and Referred (03/06/2026) |
| GA SB 476 |
This bill modifies Georgia’s tax code by establishing flat rates, dramatically increasing standard deductions, eliminating most tax credits and exemptions, while broadening the tax base and reducing complexity. |
Passed Senate (02/12/2026) | House Second Readers (02/18/2026) |
| GA SB 477 | This bill significantly accelerates and deepens tax cuts for Georgia taxpayers, reducing individual rates faster than previously planned, establishing fixed corporate/partnership rates, doubling the standard deduction increase, and making it easier to implement these cuts by lowering revenue growth requirements. |
Passed Senate (02/12/2026) Now with House Second Readers |
02/18/2026 |
| GA HB 689 | The bill creates a third category of assistance under Georgia’s housing trust fund, focusing on preventing homelessness through emergency rental assistance, legal services, and eviction diversion rather than only providing housing after homelessness occurs. | Passed House (02/25/2026) | Senate Read and Referred (02/26/2026) |
| HB 1132 | This is a targeted tax incentive to encourage charitable organizations to build affordable housing for low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers. | Passed House (03/06/2026) | Senate Read and Referred (03/09/2026) |
Source: Plural
LOUISIANA
The Louisiana legislative session convenes from March 9th to June 1st, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La. Republicans hold a majority both in the House of Representatives (80 Republicans to 19 Democrats) and the Senate (28 Republicans to 6 Democrats).8 Table 4highlights important legislation proposed in Louisiana.
Table 4: Louisiana Proposals
| Bill Number | Bill Summary | Latest Action | Latest Action Date |
| LA HB 209 | This bill proposes to establish a state minimum wage with scheduled increases and enforcement mechanisms. | Pre-filed | 02/19/2026 |
| LA HB 472 |
This bill grants Louisiana municipalities and parishes the legal authority to implement rent control/stabilization policies. Specifically, it allows local governing bodies to adopt rent stabilization ordinances by majority vote, where such authority may not have previously existed under state law. This represents a delegation of power from the state to local governments on housing policy matters. |
Pre-filed | 02/26/2026 |
| LA HB 478 | This bill mandates prompt, full reimbursement of any utility overcharges with specific timelines and labeling requirements, providing consumer protection against billing errors by regulated utility companies in Louisiana. | Pre-filed | 02/26/2026 |
Source: Plural
TENNESSEE
The Tennessee legislative session convenes from January 13th to April 24th, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. Republicans hold a majority both in the House of Representatives (75 Republicans to 24 Democrats) and the Senate (27 Republicans to 6 Democrats).9 Table 5 highlights key proposals moving through the Tennessee legislature.
Table 5: Tennessee Proposals
| Bill Number | Bill Summary | Latest Action | Latest Action Date |
| TN SB 398 | This bill grants eligible state employees mandatory paid leave for fostering a minor child. | Placed on Senate regular calendar | 03/09/2026 |
| TN HB 2392 | This bill prohibits a person from operating a data center without first being issued a permit by the water and wastewater operator board of certification (“board”). This bill grants the board oversight in compliance with the permits and the ability to enforce compliance. |
Placed on calendar for the Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee | 03/11/2026 |
| TN SB 2410 |
This bill establishes the community workforce housing innovation pilot program to be administered by the Tennessee housing development agency; authorizes the agency to provide loans to an applicant for construction or rehabilitation of workforce housing in each of the three grand divisions; requires the housing to be affordable to natural persons or families whose total annual household income does not exceed 150 percent of area median income; prioritizes projects that set aside at least 80 percent of units for workforce housing.
|
Recommended for passage with amendments | 03/10/2026 |
Source: Plural
SOUTH CAROLINA
The South Carolina legislative session convenes from January 13th to May 7th, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. The Republican party holds a majority both in the House of Representatives (88 Republicans to 28 Democrats) and the Senate (34 Republicans to 12 Democrats).10 Table 6 highlights a key proposal we support from South Carolina.
Table 6: South Carolina proposals
| Bill Number | Bill Summary | Latest Action | Latest Action Date |
| SC S 950 [Heirs’ Property] | This bill creates an exception to property tax reassessment when heirs’ property is transferred between qualified family members for the purpose of clearing title. This bill would facilitate the resolution of unclear property titles among family heirs without triggering property tax reassessment. | Referred to Committee on Finance | 02/24/2026 |
Source: Plural
MISSISSIPPI
The Mississippi legislative session convenes from January 6th to April 5th, 2026, in Jackson, Miss. The Republican party holds a majority both in the House of Representatives (78 Republicans to 45 Democrats) and the Senate (34 Republicans to 18 Democrats). Table 7 highlights two key initiatives moving through the Mississippi legislature.
Table 7: Mississippi proposals
| Bill Number | Bill Summary | Latest Action | Latest Action Date |
| MS SB 2409 | This bill significantly strengthens and expands Mississippi’s home mitigation program by broadening coverage beyond hurricanes, increasing funding through new fees, raising grant amounts, and establishing permanent status with enhanced oversight. | Passed House (03/04/2026); Senate Declined to Concur | 03/11/2026 |
| MS HB 1063 | This bill incentivizes energy generation and storage infrastructure investment in Mississippi by expanding and extending tax exemption programs, particularly targeting renewable energy and battery storage project | Passed House (02/25/2026); Senate Pass as Amended | 03/10/2026 |
Source: Plural
Overall, the proposals selected are a fraction of the bills considered by state policymakers in the South. While we cannot analyze each proposal, we can note with confidence that most of the proposals successfully navigating through each state’s legislative cycle are those sponsored by legislators from each respective state’s majority party. This has several implications for our efforts. First, because proposals from minority party legislators are not being examined with fidelity, there exists a vacuous environment wherein constituents affiliated with the minority party are not adequately represented in their own state governments. Second, if proposals from majority party affiliates are the only ones being legislated, it follows then that a not insignificant number of voters are summarily being disenfranchised. Our next legislative outlook will provide additional insight.
