SB347: SB347 Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority; method of appointing the membership; change

The Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority was created by a 1963 state law and later amended in 1987. This bill rewrites the authority's founding law to change how its board of governors is chosen and how long members serve. Under the bill, the board has five seats. Four seats (1 through 4) are filled through a joint process: the authority nominates a candidate, and the governing bodies of Glynn County and the City of Brunswick must both approve. If three straight nominees are rejected, the county and city can appoint someone directly. These members serve staggered four-year terms and are limited to two successive terms before a required two-year wait. The fifth seat is reserved for the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Glynn County Board of Commissioners, appointed annually by that board. The bill also adds a formal, for-cause removal process with written notice and a hearing, sets residency and taxpayer requirements for members, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

• Restructures the board of governors into five seats, with four filled through joint nomination and approval by Glynn County and the City of Brunswick.
• Reserves the fifth seat for whoever serves as chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Glynn County Board of Commissioners, appointed annually for up to four one-year terms.
• Sets staggered four-year terms for Seats 1 through 4, with transition end dates running from June 30, 2026 through June 30, 2029, and a two-term limit followed by a mandatory two-year wait.
• Creates a formal for-cause removal process requiring written notice, a hearing, and a unanimous vote of the other four board members.
• Requires all board members to be Glynn County taxpayers and residents, bars most members from also being Glynn County or Brunswick employees, and requires a sworn oath upon appointment.
• Sets the law's effective date as July 1, 2025.

The Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority board members, current and future; the Glynn County Board of Commissioners and the City of Brunswick governing bodies, which now share joint appointment power; and Glynn County residents and taxpayers, since board eligibility is tied to residency and tax status.

The changes affect who controls local economic development decisions in Brunswick and Glynn County by giving the county and city joint say over four board seats and guaranteeing county commission representation through the fifth seat, while adding term limits and a formal process for removing members.

• Section 1 revises the authority's founding Sections 1 and 2, setting the board at five members and defining Seats 1 through 4 as jointly appointed and Seat 5 as the county commission chairperson or vice-chairperson.
• Subsection (c) requires the authority to designate current members to Seats 1 through 4 within ten days after July 1, 2025.
• Subsection (d) sets staggered expiration dates for the current Seats 1-4 members, from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2029, with eligibility for one more four-year term.
• Subsection (e) establishes the joint nomination and approval process for future Seats 1-4 appointments, including a fallback direct appointment if three nominees are rejected, and a two consecutive four-year term limit.
• Subsection (f) sets Seat 5's initial term from August 1 to December 31, 2025, then annual one-year terms starting January 1, capped at four successive terms.
• Subsection (g) creates a for-cause removal process requiring written notice, a hearing, and a unanimous vote of the remaining four members, with permanent ineligibility for anyone removed.
• Section 2 requires members to be Glynn County taxpayers and residents, restricts most members from being county or city employees, and requires an oath before a notary or authorized officer.
• Section 2 of the amending Act sets the effective date as July 1, 2025, and Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-01Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-01Act 52
3. 2025-05-01Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-04-02House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-04-02House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-31House Second Readers (House)

• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)Primary sponsor
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2025

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #291

2. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2025

   168 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #377

• local government appointments
• development authority
• Glynn County
• Brunswick city government
• economic development board