# Georgia HB 709: Demorest, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Georgia HB 709, Demorest, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Victor Anderson (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (House Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB709-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 709
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Demorest, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-03-03
- Last action: 2025-05-13, House Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsors: Victor Anderson (Republican), Chris Erwin (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (211 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Demorest voters decide redevelopment and borrowing: mixed, low. The law requires a November 4, 2025 referendum on redevelopment powers for Demorest, Georgia. Approval requires more than half of votes cast on the question; the powers take effect immediately upon approval. These powers let the city redevelop areas, create tax allocation districts, issue tax alloc…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Victor Anderson (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Chris Erwin (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-04 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 51 | 1 | 3 |
| 2025-03-28 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 160 | 0 | 8 |

## Actions (13)

- 2025-05-13: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-05-13: Act 213
- 2025-05-13: Effective Date
- 2025-04-10: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-04: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2025-03-28: House Third Readers (House)
- 2025-03-28: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2025-03-06: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-03-04: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-03-03: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 709/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/239292)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [HB 709/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/239292)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
- [Georgia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia/bills)
- [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB709-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).