SR283: SR283 Joint Study Committee on Height Restrictions Surrounding Georgia Airports; create

25 LC 39 4742S (SCS) Senate Resolution 283 By: Senators Beach of the 21st, Summers of the 13th, Bearden of the 30th, Williams of the 25th and Still of the 48th ADOPTED SENATE A RESOLUTION Creating the Senate Height Restrictions Surrounding Georgia Airports Study Committee; and1 for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Georgia is one of only three states that does not regulate the height of structures3 surrounding its airports, leaving a significant gap in aviation safety and infrastructure; and4 WHEREAS, tall structures at the end of a runway or within critical approach and departure5 zones compromise aircraft operations and public safety, forcing airports to either relocate, 6 shorten, or otherwise modify runways, which are decisions that result in substantial financial7 cost and, in many cases, could lead to the closure of smaller, rural airports; and 8 WHEREAS, the state has a vested interest in balancing the rights of private landowners with9 the necessity of maintaining safe and operational airports, ens uring that aviation10 infrastructure can continue to support economic growth, public safety, and connectivity11 across Georgia; and 12 WHEREAS, a comprehensive and strategic policy approach is neede d to assess and13 implement reasonable height restrictions that protect aviation operations while also14 respecting the rights of property owners and fostering economic development; and 15 S. R. 283 - 1 - 25 LC 39 4742S (SCS) WHEREAS, study is needed to evaluate and recommend policies and possible legislative16 actions that address the challenges posed by unregulated develo pment near airports,17 including:18 (1) A comprehensive analysis of height restrictions in states with established policies in19 order to identify best practices for adoption in Georgia;20 (2) An assessment of the economic and operational impact of un regulated development21 near airports, including the potential financial burden on airp orts forced to modify22 infrastructure;23 (3) Consideration of the legal implications of implementing height restriction regulations,24 ensuring that any policy recommendations respect property right s while prioritizing25 aviation safety;26 (4) Engagement with key stakeholders, including airport operat ors, aviation industry27 experts, economic development officials, and private property o wners to gain a broad28 perspective on this issue; and29 (5) Development of legislative proposals or regulatory recomme ndations that strike a30 balance between protecting Georgia's aviation infrastructure and preserving the interests31 of private landowners.32 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:33 (1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Height34 Restrictions Surrounding Georgia Airports Study Committee.35 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of the following36 members:37 (A) The President of the Senate shall appoint four members of the Senate as members38 of the committee, one of which shall be the chairperson of the Senate Transportation39 Committee. The President of the Senate shall also designate one of such members as40 chairperson;41 S. R. 283 - 2 - 25 LC 39 4742S (SCS) (B) The commissioner of transportation, or his or her designee;42 (C) The president of the Georgia Municipal Association, or his or her designee; and 43 (D) The president of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, or his or her44 designee.45 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,46 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or47 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.48 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee49 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or50 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and51 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.52 (5) Allowances, expenses, and funding.53 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided54 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.55 (B) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,56 or state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee,57 but they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their58 duties as members of the committee in the same manner as they a re reimbursed for59 expenses in their capacities as state officials or employees.60 (C) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state of ficials, or state61 employees shall receive a daily expense allowance in an amount the same as that62 specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21 of the Offi cial Code of Georgia63 Annotated, as well as the mileage or transportation allowance a uthorized for state64 employees.65 (D) The allowances and expenses authorized by this resolution shall not be received66 by any member of the committee for more than five days unless a dditional days are67 authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come68 S. R. 283 - 3 - 25 LC 39 4742S (SCS) from funds appropriated to the Senate; except that funds for the reimbursement of the69 expenses of state officials, other than legislative members, an d state employees shall70 come from funds appropriated to or otherwise available to their respective agencies.71 (6) Report.72 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that73 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the74 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to75 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.76 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for77 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)78 of this paragraph.79 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of80 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 81 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with82 the Secretary of the Senate.83 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary84 of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.85 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.86 S. R. 283 - 4 -