SB331: SB331 City of Winder and the County of Barrow; creating and establishing a joint airport authority; repeal

Since 1958, the City of Winder and Barrow County have jointly run their local airport through a special joint airport authority created by state law. This bill repeals that original 1958 law and its later amendments, ending the authority entirely. In its place, the bill transfers every asset the authority owns, including real estate, personal property, funds, contracts, leases, permits, and licenses, to Barrow County. Barrow County also takes on all of the authority's debts and other obligations. Existing leases and contracts stay in effect but are now administered by the county. Once the transfer is finished, the authority is formally dissolved, and Barrow County becomes its legal successor for all purposes, including in any other laws or local rules that mention the authority. The law takes effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law.

• Repeals in full the 1958 law (and its 1986 and 1989 amendments) that created the joint Winder-Barrow County Airport Authority.
• Transfers all of the authority's assets, including real property, funds, contracts, leases, permits, and licenses, to Barrow County on the effective date.
• Requires Barrow County to assume all of the authority's outstanding debts, liabilities, and contractual obligations.
• Keeps existing leases and contracts in force but shifts their administration to Barrow County government.
• Dissolves the Barrow County Airport Authority once the asset and obligation transfer is complete.
• Makes Barrow County the legal successor to the authority in any other law, ordinance, resolution, or regulation that refers to it.

The City of Winder, Barrow County government and its officials, the Barrow County Airport Authority and its board members, and any businesses, tenants, or contractors with existing leases, permits, or agreements tied to the airport.

Control of the local airport moves from a separate joint authority to Barrow County government directly, meaning county commissioners rather than an appointed authority board will oversee its finances, contracts, and debts going forward, changing who is accountable for airport operations.

• Section 1 repeals the 1958 Act (Ga. L. 1958, p. 3087) and its 1986 and 1989 amendments that created the joint airport authority.
• Section 2 states the purpose: transferring the authority's assets and duties to Barrow County to streamline governance of the airport.
• Section 3 transfers all of the authority's assets and requires Barrow County to assume all of its debts and obligations on the effective date.
• Section 4 keeps existing leases, contracts, and agreements in effect, now administered by Barrow County.
• Section 5 dissolves the Barrow County Airport Authority once the transfer is complete.
• Section 6 makes Barrow County the legal successor to the authority for all references in other laws or regulations.
• Section 7 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's approval or the date the bill otherwise becomes law.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-05-14
2. 2025-05-14Act 359
3. 2025-05-14Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-04-04Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2025-03-28House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2025-03-28House Third Readers (House)
8. 2025-03-28House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)Primary sponsor
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2025

   54 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 0 absent)

   Passage As Amended: Senate Vote #251

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 28, 2025

   160 yea, 0 nay (8 not voting, 12 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #332

3. PassedSenate voteApril 4, 2025

   51 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #473

• airport governance
• Barrow County
• local government reorganization
• Winder Georgia