SB281: SB281 "Port Wentworth Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority Act"; enact

Currently the City of Port Wentworth has no dedicated authority focused on tourism promotion. This bill would create the Port Wentworth Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority, made up of five members appointed by the city council for one-year terms, at least one of whom must own or manage a hotel, motel, inn, or bed and breakfast in the city. The authority would elect its own officers, hire an executive director and staff, hold open meetings, and have broad legal powers such as owning property, borrowing money, and entering contracts to carry out its tourism-promotion mission. The city council could choose to fund the authority using hotel-motel tax revenue, subject to state law governing those funds (O.C.G.A. Title 48, Chapter 13, Article 3). The authority cannot bind the city to any debts or contracts, and the city council retains the right to inspect its records and finances.

• Creates a new five-member Port Wentworth Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority appointed by the city council for one-year terms.
• Requires at least one member to be an owner or manager of a hotel, motel, inn, or bed and breakfast in the city.
• Gives the authority power to hire an executive director and staff, borrow money, own property, and enter contracts to promote tourism.
• Allows the City of Port Wentworth to fund the authority using proceeds from its hotel-motel tax, subject to state spending rules.
• Bars the authority from legally binding the city to any contract, debt, or financial obligation.
• Requires the authority to submit an annual budget to the mayor and city council and allow city inspections of its books and property.

City of Port Wentworth residents and city council members, local hotel, motel, inn, and bed and breakfast owners or employees who may serve on the authority, and businesses connected to local tourism and conventions that the new authority would work to promote.

The bill sets up a formal, city-appointed body with legal and financial powers dedicated to promoting tourism in Port Wentworth, potentially funded by hotel-motel tax dollars, while making clear that any debts or contracts it takes on cannot become the city's legal responsibility.

• Section 2 sets the authority's membership at five people, all city residents or business owners/employees, with at least one from the local hospitality industry, appointed by city council for one-year terms and removable by two-thirds council vote.
• Section 4 lets the authority hire an executive director who oversees staff and daily operations, with salaries set by the authority.
• Section 5 requires open, publicly noticed meetings under Robert's Rules of Order, with minutes sent to the mayor and council within ten days, and sets a three-member quorum.
• Section 6 defines the authority's core duties as promoting tourism, trade, and conventions and advising the city on tourism development.
• Section 7 grants broad powers including suing and being sued, acquiring property, borrowing money, and applying for grants or federal/state assistance.
• Section 10 allows the city council to fund the authority from hotel-motel tax revenue, requiring compliance with state law on use of those funds (O.C.G.A. Title 48, Chapter 13, Article 3).
• Section 12 states the authority cannot bind the city to contracts, debts, or financial obligations.

1. 2025-03-13House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-11House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-10Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
4. 2025-03-10Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2025-02-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-02-26Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Derek Mallow (D, SD-002)Primary sponsor

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 10, 2025

   43 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #221

• tourism promotion
• local government authorities
• hotel-motel tax
• Port Wentworth
• economic development