HB734: HB734 Vidalia, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36) lets cities undertake redevelopment projects, create tax allocation districts, and issue tax allocation bonds to pay for them, but a city must be specifically authorized to use these tools. This bill grants that authorization to the City of Vidalia. The authorization does not take effect automatically. Section 2 requires Vidalia's election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, asking voters whether to approve the city's use of these redevelopment powers. If more than half of the votes cast favor approval, the authorization becomes effective immediately. If voters reject it, or if the election is not held as required, the authorization never takes effect and the entire Act is automatically repealed on the following January 1. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Authorizes the City of Vidalia to exercise 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 local referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025 before the authorization can take effect.
• Sets the vote threshold at more than half of votes cast in favor for the authorization to become effective immediately.
• Automatically repeals the entire Act on the following January 1 if voters reject it or the election is not properly held.
• Requires the election superintendent to publish notice of the election's date and purpose in Toombs County's official legal organ before the vote.
• Places the cost of holding the referendum on the City of Vidalia and requires certification of results to the Georgia Secretary of State.

Registered voters in the City of Vidalia, who will decide the referendum; Vidalia city government and its election superintendent, who must run the vote and could gain new redevelopment financing tools; and Toombs County's official legal newspaper, which must publish the election notice.

If voters approve it, Vidalia could pursue redevelopment projects funded through tax allocation districts and bonds, tools it currently cannot use. If voters reject it or the election does not happen properly, the authorization disappears and the law is automatically repealed.

• Section 1 authorizes Vidalia to exercise all 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, with notice published at least 90 days before and weekly for two weeks before the election in Toombs County's official organ.
• Section 2 states the authorization takes effect immediately if a majority of votes cast favor approval, otherwise the Act is automatically repealed the following January 1.
• Section 2 assigns election costs to the City of Vidalia and requires certification of results to the Secretary of State.
• Section 3 makes the rest of the Act effective upon the Governor's approval or its becoming law without signature.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 215
3. 2025-05-13House 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

• local referendum
• redevelopment powers
• tax allocation districts
• Vidalia city government
• Toombs County