Key Points

The Georgia Legislature is considering an occupational licensing bill that would reduce employment hurdles for returning citizens striving for a fresh start. 

For returning citizens, stable employment can mean so much more than financial stability. It can be a powerful source of renewed purpose and belonging within their communities. In fact, research has shown that if returning citizens can keep a job for six months or more, their likelihood of ending up back in prison drops dramatically. It also improves the odds that returning citizens will reconnect with loved ones, especially their children, another step toward preventing recidivism.

That’s where Senate Bill 207 enters the picture. Sponsored by Sen. Brian Strickland, the measure would create clearer guidelines for individuals with criminal records so that they can more easily obtain job licenses in various industries.

The bill applies to a variety of occupations in various fields, including education, healthcare, insurance, real estate, trade occupations, and first responders.

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce has backed SB 207, praising the bill for how it “standardizes the process for reviewing applicants with criminal records, narrows the types of offenses licensing boards can consider, and updates first-offender treatment provisions—all while maintaining important public safety protections.”

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Key job licensing improvements in SB 207 

1. Creates a simpler process for evaluating licenses applications.

SB 207 introduces a preclearance process to streamline the evaluation of licensing applicants with criminal records. Under this process, licensing authorities must present clear evidence when rejecting applicants based on criminal convictions. The measure also mandates hearings before applicants are denied licenses due to their criminal backgrounds, setting specific criteria to guide these decisions and prioritize due process. These structures help ensure licensing boards operate with greater transparency and fairness. 

2. Shores up the predetermination process to increase fairness.

The bill creates a predetermination process that allows individuals to petition licensing boards for an early evaluation of their eligibility based on their criminal history, even before completing the necessary qualifications. Licensing boards are required to provide detailed justifications for any adverse outcomes, offering applicants the chance to appeal or present additional evidence. The changes help ground decisions in merit rather than prejudice.

3. Recognizes the hard work returning citizens have put in toward rehabilitation. 

The bill requires licensing boards to carefully evaluate the nature and seriousness of past offenses, the length of time since the incident, and the individual’s age at the time of the crime. They must also review evidence of rehabilitation, including educational achievements, work history, and community involvement. This holistic approach gives more consideration to the applicant’s growth and emphasizes their present ability to contribute to the workforce, allowing them to overcome past mistakes. 

4. Places limitations on criminal records to create more neutrality.

Finally, the bill imposes limitations on the types of criminal records that can influence licensing decisions. Sealed, pardoned, or older minor convictions are generally excluded from consideration, helping applicants avoid unnecessary penalties for issues long resolved. It also curtails the use of subjective standards, such as assessing “good moral character,” which can perpetuate bias and inconsistencies.

Georgia needs licensing reform to reduce barriers to employment

While occupational licensing serves an important purpose in certain industries, it often becomes an unnecessary barrier for individuals eager to pursue meaningful careers. These barriers hit low-income workers the hardest. Licensing fees, mandatory coursework, and unpaid apprenticeships can be insurmountable for those struggling to make ends meet or to overcome difficult circumstances, past or present. For example, someone trying to enter a trade like plumbing or electrical work might face costs of thousands of dollars before they can begin earning.

Job licensing reforms offer a way to expand job opportunities and restore people’s hope for better future. With SB 207, Georgia lawmakers have a chance to build on their recent history of reforming occupational licensure to benefit Georgians and strengthen our workforce.

Key Points

Benefit cliffs discourage work and trap families in long-term financial struggles. A new policy solution offers a way out.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the largest anti-poverty programs in the U.S., providing over 41 million Americans with critical food assistance in 2024. But for many recipients, a system designed to support often ends up trapping—with significant barriers known as benefit cliffs.

These cliffs occur when small increases in income result in recipients suddenly losing their SNAP assistance, leaving them in a worse financial position for working more hours or earning an income boost. For example, a single parent’s modest hourly raise might lead to a benefit cut that completely offsets their increased take-home pay.

The negative ripple effects extend far beyond individuals and households. Benefit cliffs reduce workforce participation and make it harder for plenty of small businesses and industries to find the workers they need to grow and serve customers.

A new proposal for reform, developed with research by Erik Randolph at the Georgia Center for Opportunity in collaboration with Angela Rachidi of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), offers a way to dismantle SNAP benefit cliffs and restore the program’s original mission—helping families achieve financial independence and stability.

SNAP’s design discourages career growth among recipients

SNAP is meant to help low-income families put food on the table. But the system unintentionally penalizes those who pursue better wages or career opportunities.

For many recipients, earning extra income—not just large raises but even modest increases as one gains skills or works more hours—means abruptly losing SNAP benefits altogether. Instead of slowly tapering down, benefits “fall off a cliff” as income rises.

This financial disincentive creates a dilemma for households relying on SNAP. While accepting additional shifts or applying for a higher-paying position could signify career growth, it may financially set them back without SNAP assistance offsetting basic expenses.

The economic impact is widespread. With fewer prime-age workers, employers encounter labor shortages, and their ability to operate efficiently is compromised. Workforce productivity also declines when workers are stuck in part-time, lower-skilled jobs rather than advancing to higher economic opportunities. The result is a cycle that makes it harder for families to break free from reliance on public assistance programs.

New SNAP reform proposals offer a way forward

Research by AEI and GCO outlines actionable steps to eliminate benefit cliffs while maintaining SNAP costs close to historical levels. These recommendations include changes to critical factors within the program’s structure to allow for a smoother, gradual reduction in benefits as income rises.

Key reforms involve adjusting the following elements of SNAP’s benefit system:

• Adjust participants’ cost-sharing responsibilities. The proposed plan would reduce the benefit reduction rate from 30% to 18%, making it easier for families to transition off benefits.
• Cost-sharing should begin as soon as income increases. Right now, deductions delay cost-sharing, which creates benefits cliffs when income limits run out. The new plan is a middle ground, starting benefit reductions earlier but at a lower rate. While it might lower benefits for many families, benefit cliffs are eliminated or reduced.

These structural adjustments effectively close the gap between earned income and benefit loss, removing financial penalties for participants who work more hours or accept higher-paying opportunities.

A win for workers, families, small businesses, and taxpayers

Simplifying and improving SNAP’s benefit structure solves major labor market challenges. For recipients, reforms encourage workforce participation and career advancement, empowering them to climb the economic ladder without fear of a financial setback.

For employers, these changes help restore a steady supply of available workers, addressing hiring difficulties in industries that rely on hourly, shift-based, or entry-level staff. Additionally, SNAP reform creates fiscal balance while allowing the government to save money long term—potentially reducing program expenses by 27% or $30 billion annually.

GCO continues to investigate ways to improve safety-net programs to help families escape poverty, and these recommendations for SNAP are an important piece of those efforts. Employment is one of the most reliable ways to break cycles of poverty, yet benefit cliffs trap too many families in stagnant economic conditions. Eliminating these barriers will strengthen the workforce, stabilize families, and create economic momentum that benefits us all.

Download the full report from American Enterprise Institute and Georgia Center for Opportunity here.