HB735: HB735 Lyons, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Under Georgia's constitution and the Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36), local governments can only use redevelopment tools like tax allocation districts and tax allocation bonds if the General Assembly grants them that authority. This bill would grant that authority to the City of Lyons, letting it undertake community redevelopment projects and finance them by capturing future property tax growth in designated districts. The authority would not take effect automatically. The bill requires the Lyons election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, asking voters to approve or reject the redevelopment powers. If a majority vote yes, the powers take effect immediately. If voters reject it or the election is not held as required, the whole Act is automatically repealed on the following January 1. The city must pay the cost of the election.

• Authorizes the City of Lyons to use all redevelopment 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 a citywide referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025 asking voters to approve or reject the new redevelopment powers.
• Requires the election superintendent to publish notice of the election in Toombs County's official legal newspaper on a set schedule before the vote.
• Makes the redevelopment authority effective immediately if a majority of voters approve it, and automatically repeals the entire Act on the following January 1 if voters reject it or the election is not properly held.
• Places the cost of conducting the referendum on the City of Lyons and requires the election superintendent to certify results to the Georgia Secretary of State.

The change directly affects the City of Lyons city government, its election superintendent, and registered voters within the city, who will decide the outcome at the ballot box. It also indirectly affects Toombs County, since notice of the election must run in the county's official legal newspaper.

If approved, Lyons could pursue redevelopment projects funded by tax allocation districts and bonds, tools many Georgia cities use to spur development without raising general tax rates. Whether the city gains these financing options depends entirely on how Lyons voters vote in November 2025.

• Section 1 authorizes the City of Lyons to exercise the full scope of redevelopment powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law, including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Section 2 requires a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, specifies the exact ballot language, and sets notice publication requirements in Toombs County's official organ.
• Section 2 states that Section 1 takes effect immediately if a majority approve it, but the entire Act is automatically repealed the following January 1 if voters reject it or the election is not held as required.
• Section 3 sets the general effective date as the date of the Governor's approval or the date the bill becomes law without signature, except where Section 2 controls.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting state laws.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-05-14
2. 2025-05-14Act 320
3. 2025-05-14House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-28Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-28Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-20Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-18House Passed/Adopted (House)

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

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 18, 2025

   171 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #279

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 28, 2025

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #313

• redevelopment powers
• tax allocation districts
• City of Lyons
• local referendum
• Toombs County