# Georgia SB 621: "Barrow County Public Facilities Authority Act"; enact Georgia SB 621, "Barrow County Public Facilities Authority Act"; enact, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Bill Cowsert (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Frank Ginn (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-SB621-2025-2026 - 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 621 - State: Georgia - Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session - Title: "Barrow County Public Facilities Authority Act"; enact - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-03-12 - Last action: 2026-05-11, Senate Date Signed by Governor - Sponsors: Bill Cowsert (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (143 yes, 75 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Barrow County gets a facilities authority: benefit, low. The law creates the Barrow County Public Facilities Authority to finance, build, own, lease, operate, and sell county facilities and equipment. It can acquire property, including through condemnation under legal limits, sign contracts, hire staff, and accept government loans or grants. Its five-mem… - Barrow authority bondholders gain legal protections: benefit, low. While any authority revenue bonds remain unpaid, government actions cannot weaken its powers, duties, or existence to bondholders' detriment. The law also bars new competing public bodies or state actions that harm bondholders' rights or interests. Bonds can be backed by trust agreements, with repa… - Barrow County gains project bond financing: benefit, low. The authority can issue revenue bonds to pay county project costs or refinance earlier debt. Its board must first pass a resolution finding that a project can pay for itself. Financed costs can include land, equipment, professional fees, working capital, and six months of interest after constructio… - Tax exemptions cover authority assets and bonds: benefit, low. The authority's income, land, buildings, and other property are exempt from state and local taxes and special assessments. The exemption also covers its revenue bonds, certificates of participation, notes, and other debt. These exemptions apply only to the extent Georgia general law allows. The law… - Barrow facilities authority can charge users: cost, low. The authority can set and change rates, fees, tolls, fines, and other charges for its services, facilities, and goods. People using those services or facilities may have to pay these charges. The authority can pledge some or all of this money to repay project debts. The law sets no specific prices. - Legal immunity limits Barrow authority claims: cost, low. The authority gets the same immunity from negligence and other civil harm claims as Barrow County, where law permits. Its officers, agents, and employees get the same protection as county personnel while performing authority work. These protections can limit legal options for people seeking payment… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Bill Cowsert (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Clint Dixon (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Frank Ginn (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Chuck Efstration (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-02 | House | Supplemental Local Calendar | pass | 94 | 75 | 6 | | 2026-03-19 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 49 | 0 | 5 | ## Actions (13) - 2026-05-11: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate) - 2026-05-11: Act 621 - 2026-05-11: Effective Date - 2026-04-10: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate) - 2026-04-02: House Committee Favorably Reported (House) - 2026-04-02: House Third Readers (House) - 2026-04-02: House Passed/Adopted (House) - 2026-03-23: House Second Readers (House) - 2026-03-20: House First Readers (House) - 2026-03-19: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate) - 2026-03-16: Senate Read and Referred (Senate) - 2026-03-12: Senate Hopper (Senate) ## Bill text - SB 621/AP* (v6): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249237) ## 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 621/AP* (v6) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249237) ## 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) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB621-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).