SB78: SB78 "City of Tybee Island Buildings and Public Facilities Authority Act"; enact

This bill sets up a new public authority for the City of Tybee Island, similar to authorities other Georgia cities already use. The authority is a separate legal body from the city and state, run by five members appointed by the Tybee Island City Council, and its job is to acquire, build, and operate projects such as buildings and facilities the city needs for its government offices and services. To pay for these projects, the authority can issue revenue bonds and collect rent, fees, or charges from the city or others who use the facilities. These bonds are backed only by the authority's own revenue, not by city or state tax dollars, so they do not count as public debt. The bill also gives the authority tax exemptions, legal immunity similar to the city's, and rules for what happens to its property if it is ever dissolved. It repeals any conflicting laws and takes effect once signed.

• Creates the City of Tybee Island Building and Public Facilities Authority as a separate public corporation to build and run city facilities.
• Lets the authority issue revenue bonds to pay for construction, with repayment coming only from rents and fees, not from city or state taxes.
• Sets up a five-member board appointed by the Tybee Island City Council, with three-year terms and rules for filling vacancies.
• Exempts the authority's bonds, income, and most property from state taxes, though not from sales and use tax on its purchases.
• Gives the authority and its employees the same legal immunity from lawsuits over accidents or negligence that the City of Tybee Island already has.
• Requires that if the authority is ever dissolved, its remaining property goes to the City of Tybee Island.

The bill mainly affects the City of Tybee Island's government, its city council (which appoints the authority's board), any residents or businesses that lease or use authority-built facilities, and investors who might buy the authority's revenue bonds.

The new authority gives Tybee Island a financing tool to build offices, public buildings, and facilities without directly borrowing against city tax revenue, since the bonds are repaid only from rents and fees the authority collects, shifting financial risk away from the city's general budget.

• Section 2 creates the authority as a state instrumentality with its main office in Tybee Island, separate from the city and state governments.
• Section 3 sets board membership at five people appointed by the city council, limits city council overlap to two members, and sets three-year terms.
• Section 5 lists the authority's powers, including buying property, signing leases, borrowing money, and issuing revenue bonds.
• Section 6 states that authority bonds do not create city or state debt and cannot be enforced against city or state property.
• Section 12 lets the authority set rents and fees to cover construction costs, bond payments, and operating expenses.
• Section 14 exempts the authority from most state taxes on its property and income but not from sales and use tax.
• Section 15 gives the authority and its employees the same tort immunity as the City of Tybee Island.
• Section 20 requires that if the authority dissolves, its remaining property transfers to the City of Tybee Island.

1. 2025-05-01Effective Date 2025-05-01
2. 2025-05-01Act 53
3. 2025-05-01Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-07Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-03-04House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-03-04House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-04House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-02-13House Second Readers (House)

• Ben Watson (R, SD-001)Primary sponsor
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   49 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #33

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2025

   172 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #148

• local government authorities
• municipal bonds
• Tybee Island
• public facilities financing