HB462: HB462 Toombs County; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Under the Georgia Constitution and the Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36), local governments can be authorized to pursue community redevelopment projects by creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds, a financing tool that uses future increases in property tax revenue from a designated area to pay for improvements there. This bill would authorize Toombs County to use all of those powers. The authorization would not take effect automatically. The bill requires the Toombs County election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, asking voters to approve or reject the measure. The election must be publicized in the county's official legal organ in advance. If a majority vote yes, the redevelopment authorization becomes law immediately. If voters reject it, or if the election is not properly held, the authorization never takes effect and the whole Act is automatically repealed the following January 1.

• Authorizes Toombs County to exercise the full range of powers under Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36), including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Requires the Toombs County election superintendent to call and hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025.
• Requires public notice of the election date and purpose in the county's official legal organ, once at least 90 days before the vote and weekly for the two weeks before it.
• Makes the redevelopment authorization effective immediately if a majority of voters approve it, and automatically repeals the whole Act on the following January 1 if voters reject it or the election is not properly held.
• Assigns the cost of the election to Toombs County and requires the election superintendent to certify results to the Secretary of State.

Toombs County government and its election superintendent, county voters who will decide the referendum, and any developers, property owners, or taxing entities that could later be involved in redevelopment projects or tax allocation districts created under this authority.

If voters approve it, Toombs County would gain a financing tool used elsewhere in Georgia to fund redevelopment projects, such as blight removal or infrastructure, by borrowing against future property tax gains in designated districts, without needing further state approval for each project.

• Section 1 authorizes Toombs County to exercise all powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36), including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Section 2 requires a countywide referendum in November 2025, sets public notice requirements, and specifies that Section 1 takes effect only if a majority of voters approve it.
• Section 2 also provides that if voters reject the measure or the election is not properly conducted, the entire Act is automatically repealed on the following January 1.
• Section 3 sets the general effective date as upon the Governor's approval or the Act becoming law without signature, except as limited by Section 2.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-05-14
2. 2025-05-14Act 319
3. 2025-05-14House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-03Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-02-21House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 21, 2025

   170 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #58

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 3, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 0 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #114

• Toombs County
• redevelopment powers
• tax allocation districts
• local referendum
• county government