# Georgia SB 612: City of Cochran Public Facilities Authority; create

Georgia SB 612, City of Cochran Public Facilities Authority; create, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Larry Walker (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-11 (Senate Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB612-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia SB 612
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: City of Cochran Public Facilities Authority; create
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-03-02
- Last action: 2026-05-11, Senate Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Larry Walker (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (202 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 6

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Georgia tax break for Cochran bondholders: benefit, low. Revenue bonds issued by the Cochran authority under this law are exempt from taxation within Georgia. All income from those bonds is also exempt from taxation within Georgia. The law states no individual savings amount.
- New authority for Cochran public projects: benefit, low. The law creates a public authority based in Cochran to build, own, lease, and run projects within city limits. Projects include public buildings, sewers, stormwater systems, utilities, broadband, and historic preservation. Its seven unpaid board members serve alongside their city governing terms; f…
- Cochran bonds carry no government guarantee: benefit, low. The authority can issue revenue bonds for project costs and refinance existing bonds under Georgia’s bond law and this act. Repayment comes only from pledged funds, which can include project receipts and available authority revenue, including tax-derived revenue where allowed. The bonds are not sta…
- Cochran authority gets broad tax exemptions: benefit, low. The authority’s property, operations, use charges, and other income are exempt from taxes and assessments as far as general law allows. The exemption does not cover sales and use tax on property bought by or for the authority. The law does not require tax savings to be passed on to households.
- Cochran project users face fees: cost, low. The authority can set and change rents, fees, and charges for its projects. Together with other revenue, charges must cover operating costs, repairs, insurance, reserves, bond payments, and project expenses. Charges must also support extra income needed to improve bond marketability or secure favor…
- Limits on injury claims in Cochran: cost, low. The authority gets the same protection from injury and negligence lawsuits as a Georgia county. Its officers, agents, and employees receive that protection while doing authority work. These protections limit legal remedies for people bringing such claims. The authority remains subject to lawsuits o…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Larry Walker (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Danny Mathis (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 153 | 0 | 18 |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 49 | 0 | 4 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-11: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2026-05-11: Act 618
- 2026-05-11: Effective Date
- 2026-04-10: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-03-20: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-20: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-10: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-03-09: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 612/AP* (v6): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/246964)

## 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
- [SB 612/AP* (v6) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/246964)

## 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-SB612-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).