HB714: HB714 Rincon, City of; designation of electors; revise provisions

In 2022 the Georgia General Assembly authorized the City of Rincon to create one or more community improvement districts, special taxing zones where property owners can be assessed extra fees to fund improvements. This bill amends that 2022 law in two ways. First, it revises the definition of 'electors,' the property owners entitled to vote in district matters, clarifying that an owner of multiple parcels gets only one vote and that multiple owners of a single parcel must designate one person in writing to cast their shared vote. Second, it rewrites the section governing the district's five-member board. Two members are appointed (one by the Rincon city council, one by the city manager), and three are elected by a caucus of qualifying property owners. The bill sets four-year terms for elected members, allows the city council to expand the board to seven members, and details procedures for recall elections, filling vacancies, and public notice of elections. The law repeals conflicting prior provisions.

• Redefines 'electors' in the Rincon community improvement district law so that an owner of multiple parcels gets only one vote rather than one vote per parcel.
• Requires multiple owners of a single parcel to designate in writing one person to cast their shared vote.
• Sets the district board at five members: two appointed (by the city council and city manager) and three elected by a caucus of qualifying property owners, each serving four-year terms.
• Allows the Rincon city council, by resolution, to expand the board to seven members with two additional elected seats.
• Establishes procedures for recalling board members, filling board vacancies, and providing public notice of elections and caucuses.
• Exempts district board elections and recalls from Georgia's general election law chapters (O.C.G.A. Title 21, Chapters 2 and 4).

Property owners within the City of Rincon's community improvement district, the district's governing board members, the Rincon city council and city manager, and Effingham County election and tax officials who publish notices and maintain property tax records used to identify eligible voters.

The changes affect who gets to vote on district taxing and spending decisions and how the board overseeing those decisions is chosen. Owners of multiple properties or shared parcels would see clearer, more limited voting rights, and the city gains flexibility to expand the board's elected seats.

• Section 1 revises paragraph (7) of Section 3 to redefine 'electors' as property owners subject to district taxes, fees, and assessments, limiting each owner to one vote regardless of parcel count.
• Section 2 rewrites Section 5 to set the board at five members, two appointed and three elected, with four-year terms for elected members.
• Section 2 allows the city council to expand the board to seven members by resolution, adding two more elected seats.
• Section 2 requires an elected board member to remain an 'elector' or forfeit the seat, effective the date they no longer qualify.
• Section 2 sets recall procedures triggered by a city council resolution or a petition from one-third of district electors.
• Section 2 requires notice of caucuses and elections to be published weekly for four weeks in Effingham County's legal organ.
• Section 2 exempts district board elections and recalls from Georgia's general election statutes (O.C.G.A. Title 21, Chapters 2 and 4).
• Section 3 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-01Effective Date 2025-05-01
2. 2025-05-01Act 51
3. 2025-05-01House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-13House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 13, 2025

   169 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #273

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2025

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #277

• Rincon Georgia
• community improvement districts
• local government boards
• property taxes
• election rules