All Roll Calls
Yes: 222 • No: 1
GeorgiaHB 7562025-2026 Regular SessionHouse
Chatham Area Transit Authority; abolish current memberships; provide new board
Sponsored By: Carl Gilliard (Democrat), Bill Hitchens (Republican), Edna Jackson (Democrat), Jesse Petrea (Republican), Anne Allen Westbrook (Democrat)
Became Law
Intragovernmental CoordinationState and Local Governmental OperationsLocal Bill
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Monthly public meetings and open records
Beginning July 1, 2025, the board holds regular monthly meetings. Meetings follow Robert’s Rules unless the board adopts other rules. A majority of members is a quorum, and vacancies do not limit a quorum’s powers. The board elects a chair and vice chair for two‑year terms, and the chair votes on all matters. Motions, resolutions, and documents are public records open to inspection under state law.
Ethics, no pay, and attendance rules
Beginning July 1, 2025, board members do not receive pay, but they can be repaid for actual, reasonable expenses approved in advance. Members cannot vote on matters where they have a financial interest, and employees cannot profit from authority contracts beyond their normal pay. A seat is lost for a felony or a crime of moral turpitude, for four unexcused regular absences in a row, or for missing at least half of meetings in a fiscal year without an excuse. Anyone who served two full terms must wait two years before being reappointed. If a seat opens, it is filled for the rest of the term using the same appointment process.
New transit board replaces old board
Effective June 30, 2025, all current Chatham Area Transit Authority members leave office and those seats end. Beginning July 1, 2025, a new board of up to 11 members takes over as the legal successor. Seats include two from the county commission; one each from Savannah and Garden City; one from Port Wentworth only if that city joins; one from the Convention Center Authority; one county appointee who is a person with a disability; one Savannah resident appointee; and three picks by the Chatham County legislative delegation (one from a business group, one from a tourism group, and one county resident). Terms: the convention center and the three delegation seats serve two years; the disability and Savannah‑resident seats serve four years; county and city appointees serve with their elected terms. Most members may live anywhere in Chatham County; city‑tied seats must meet the city residency or elected‑official rules. Public officers and employees who meet the residency rules may serve. The legislative delegation means all state senators and representatives with districts wholly or partly in Chatham County. All conflicting laws are repealed as of June 30, 2025.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Carl Gilliard
Democrat • House
Bill Hitchens
Republican • House
Edna Jackson
Democrat • House
Jesse Petrea
Republican • House
Anne Allen Westbrook
Democrat • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/2/2025
SUPPLEMENTAL LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR
Yes: 55 • No: 1
House vote • 3/31/2025
Supplemental Local Calendar
Yes: 167 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Effective Date
6/30/2025House Date Signed by Governor
5/14/2025HouseAct 323
5/14/2025House Sent to Governor
4/10/2025HouseSenate Committee Favorably Reported
4/2/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted
4/2/2025SenateHouse Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
3/31/2025HouseHouse Third Readers
3/31/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted By Substitute
3/31/2025HouseSenate Read and Referred
3/31/2025SenateHouse Committee Favorably Reported
3/25/2025HouseHouse Withdrawn, Recommitted
3/25/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
3/18/2025HouseHouse First Readers
3/13/2025HouseHouse Hopper
3/11/2025House
Bill Text
HB 756/AP* (v7)
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