SB151: SB151 "Joint Development Authority of North Fulton Municipalities Act"; enact

Right now, a county development authority (a body that can offer property tax breaks to attract business projects) can operate anywhere in its county, including inside cities. This bill changes that for what it calls a 'massively municipalized county,' defined as a county without a merged city-county government where cities cover 95 percent or more of the county's land. In those counties, the county development authority could no longer buy or take title to property for a tax incentive project inside a city located north of the county's main city, if that city's government has passed a resolution blocking the authority from operating there. The restriction would not undo projects already approved before January 1, 2026, or affect later changes, refinancing, or property transfers tied to those older projects. The bill would take effect January 1, 2026.

• Adds a new section to Georgia's development authority law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 62 of Title 36) defining a 'massively municipalized county' as one where cities cover 95 percent or more of the land and there is no merged city-county government.
• Bars a county development authority in such a county from buying or taking title to property for a property tax incentive project inside certain north-side cities.
• Makes that restriction apply only if the city's own governing body has passed a resolution opting the city out of the county authority's reach.
• Protects development projects approved before January 1, 2026 from the new restriction, including later refinancing, renewals, or property transfers tied to them.
• Sets the law's effective date as January 1, 2026.

County development authorities in heavily city-covered counties (chiefly Fulton County), city governments north of a county's main city (such as several north Fulton municipalities), businesses seeking property tax incentive deals, and residents of those cities.

Cities that pass an opt-out resolution would gain more control over whether the county, rather than the city itself, can offer property tax incentives for development within their borders, changing who controls tax break deals inside those city limits going forward.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 36-62-4.1 defining 'massively municipalized county' as a county without a consolidated government where two or more cities cover 95 percent or more of its land area.
• Subsection (b) bars a county development authority from acquiring property for a tax incentive project inside a city north of the county seat's city if that city has adopted an opt-out resolution.
• Subsection (c) exempts projects already approved before January 1, 2026, and shields their later amendments, refinancing, renewals, or property transfers from the new rule.
• Section 2 sets the effective date at January 1, 2026.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting state laws.

1. 2025-03-31House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-03-31House Third Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-21House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2025-03-20House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
5. 2025-03-18House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
6. 2025-03-06House Second Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-04House First Readers (House)
8. 2025-03-03Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)

• Brandon Beach (R, SD-021)Primary sponsor
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 26, 2025

   31 yea, 23 nay (2 not voting, 0 absent)

   Motion To Withdraw And Commit: Senate Vote #91

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 3, 2025

   32 yea, 23 nay (0 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #130

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2025

   101 yea, 63 nay (6 not voting, 10 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #362

• development authorities
• property tax incentives
• Fulton County
• local government powers
• economic development