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GeorgiaHB 5752025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Transportation, Department of; authorize notice of certain public hearings by electronic publication

Sponsored By: Leesa Hagan (Republican), Rick Jasperse (Republican), Derrick McCollum (Republican), Lauren McDonald III (Republican), Alan Powell (Republican)

Signed by Governor

TransportationGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Heavy vehicle towing authority for highways

Georgia’s transportation department can run a towing and recovery program to clear interstate and limited-access highway rights-of-way. It covers vehicles over 16,000 pounds that block traffic because they are disabled, damaged, abandoned, wrecked, or otherwise inoperable. Removal requires a determination and request from transportation officials, public safety officials, local police, or designated fire personnel. Cleanup includes affected cargo carried or spilled by the vehicle, but excludes passenger vehicles and their personal property. The department can set towing operator qualifications, standards, procedures, and incentives; no funding amount or start date is specified.

Online notices for transportation project hearings

Georgia’s transportation department can publish required hearing notices in print or online. It must also post notice on its website at least 30 days before the hearing. The first published notice is due at least 30 days before the hearing. The second is due at least five days before, or on the last available publication date. Instead, the department can offer a chance to request a hearing through two weekly newspaper notices over two weeks. The request period must last at least 21 days after the first notice and 14 days after the second. Written requests require a hearing; without requests, the hearing requirement is satisfied. Both notice routes require notices sent to federal transportation officials, relevant state agencies, and affected local governments and planning agencies. A hearing is also required when the law is unclear about whether one is needed. Changed project locations or designs require another hearing when transportation, social, economic, or environmental effects are substantially different.

Association boards handle shared property acquisitions

Georgia’s transportation department can work with authorized condominium or property owners’ association boards to acquire shared property. Boards can transfer that property for all owners unless the recorded governing documents say otherwise. If agreement fails, the department can name the association in an acquisition case instead of each owner. It must still name an owner directly affected compared with other owners. Boards must divide any payment among owners according to ownership shares in the governing documents.

State can pay utility relocation costs

Georgia’s transportation department can pay all or part of utility relocation costs required by public road construction or maintenance. It must find that payment serves the public interest and is necessary to speed project staging. Publicly, privately, and cooperatively owned public utilities qualify. Covered systems include water, sewer, communications, power, lighting, gas, steam, waste, and storm water unrelated to highway drainage. Fire and police signals, traffic controls, and street lighting also qualify. Costs must be in the road contractor’s contract or a written agreement with the utility. No payment amount is set, and lower customer bills are not guaranteed.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Leesa Hagan

    Republican • House

  • Rick Jasperse

    Republican • House

  • Derrick McCollum

    Republican • House

  • Lauren McDonald III

    Republican • House

  • Alan Powell

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Clint Dixon

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 382 • No: 2

House vote • 4/2/2025

Agree to Senate Substitute

Yes: 167 • No: 1 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 3/28/2025

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 165 • No: 1 • Other: 8

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2025

  2. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/14/2025House

  3. Act 273

    5/14/2025

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/10/2025House

  5. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

    4/2/2025House

  6. Senate Third Read

    3/28/2025Senate

  7. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/28/2025Senate

  8. Senate Read Second Time

    3/21/2025Senate

  9. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/20/2025Senate

  10. Senate Read and Referred

    3/6/2025Senate

  11. House Third Readers

    3/4/2025House

  12. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/4/2025House

  13. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/28/2025House

  14. House Second Readers

    2/26/2025House

  15. House First Readers

    2/24/2025House

  16. House Hopper

    2/21/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 575/AP* (v8)

    PDF

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