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GeorgiaHB 7862025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Dodge County Building and Public Facilities Authority Act; enact

Sponsored By: Danny Mathis (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Intragovernmental CoordinationState and Local Governmental OperationsLocal Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New public facilities authority for Dodge County

The law creates an authority to build, equip, maintain, and operate public facilities within Dodge County's current or future boundaries. Facilities serve the county, local governments, and eligible public bodies, including the Dodge County School District. The authority can buy property, make agreements, and accept grants, gifts, and loans. County commissioners choose five members; no more than two can also be county commissioners. After bond debt is fully paid, dissolution sends remaining property to the county; bond documents can authorize earlier transfers. Transfers remain subject to existing liens, leases, and other claims.

Dodge County authority gets bond financing

The authority can issue revenue bonds to pay for public projects or refinance its existing bonds. Repayment comes only from pledged authority funds and assets. The bonds are not debts backed by Georgia's or Dodge County's general credit. However, bond documents can pledge money derived from taxes to the extent those documents provide.

Dodge County bondholders get repayment protections

The authority must hold money received under the law's funding provisions in trust and use it only as allowed. Qualifying bondholders have a legal claim on those funds until they are used as the bond documents require. Available income from different projects can be pledged for bond payments, fees, and premiums unless already pledged elsewhere. Bond documents govern repayment funds and allow enforcement through trustees or court-appointed receivers. While bonds remain outstanding, changes to the authority cannot harm bondholders' protected rights.

Authority bondholders get Georgia tax exemptions

Authority bonds issued under this law, and income from those bonds, are exempt from taxation within Georgia. This tax break applies to those bonds and their income, not to investors' other income. The law does not establish a federal tax exemption.

Dodge County authority gets limited tax exemptions

The authority's property, operations, rents, fees, and income are exempt from taxes and assessments as far as Georgia law allows. The exemption does not cover sales and use tax on property purchased by or for the authority. It does not exempt residents' property or purchases.

Public facility leases can require early payments

The authority can set and change rents, fees, and charges for using its projects. Charges can cover operations, maintenance, insurance, bond payments, reserves, and related costs. Leases can require payments before construction ends or while space cannot be used. They can also require tenants to maintain, repair, or rebuild facilities and cover losses through indemnity agreements. These obligations apply to governments and other project tenants, not directly to households.

Authority lawsuits allowed, but recovery options limited

Parties can sue the authority over its contracts as they can sue a private corporation. But the authority has Georgia's protections against injury and negligence claims. Its officers, agents, and employees have the same protections when doing authority work. Creditors cannot use legal process to seize and sell authority property. Dodge County Superior Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over bond validation and actions enforcing rights under the law or bond documents.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Danny Mathis

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 215 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR

Yes: 51 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 3/27/2025

Local Calendar

Yes: 164 • No: 0 • Other: 12

Actions Timeline

  1. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  2. Act 227

    5/13/2025

  3. Effective Date

    5/13/2025

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/7/2025House

  5. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    4/2/2025Senate

  6. Senate Passed/Adopted

    4/2/2025Senate

  7. Senate Read and Referred

    3/28/2025Senate

  8. House Committee Favorably Reported

    3/27/2025House

  9. House Third Readers

    3/27/2025House

  10. House Passed/Adopted

    3/27/2025House

  11. House Second Readers

    3/21/2025House

  12. House First Readers

    3/20/2025House

  13. House Hopper

    3/18/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 786/AP* (v4)

    PDF

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