HB802: HB802 Cedartown, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Georgia law allows cities to use special redevelopment tools, including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds, under the state's 'Redevelopment Powers Law' (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36) and a related provision of the Georgia Constitution. Cedartown currently is not authorized to use these tools. This bill would grant that authority, but it does not take effect on its own. Instead, the bill requires Cedartown's election superintendent to hold a referendum asking voters whether to approve the city using these redevelopment powers. If more than half of voters say yes, 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or if the election is not held as required, the authorization never takes effect and the entire Act is automatically repealed the following January 1. The bill also sets notice and publication requirements for the election and repeals any conflicting laws.

• Authorizes the City of Cedartown 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 local referendum in which Cedartown voters must approve the authorization before it can take effect.
• Sets the referendum date and requires public notice of the election be published in Polk County's official legal organ on a specific schedule before the vote.
• Makes the redevelopment authorization automatically repealed if voters reject it or if the election is not properly held.
• Requires the election superintendent to certify the referendum results to the Georgia Secretary of State.

Cedartown city government and officials who would gain new redevelopment financing tools, Cedartown voters who must approve the measure in a referendum, and the Polk County official newspaper responsible for publishing election notices.

If approved by voters, Cedartown could use tax allocation districts and bonds to fund redevelopment projects, a financing tool many Georgia cities use to spur development in targeted areas. Whether the city gains this power depends entirely on the outcome of the local referendum.

• Section 1 authorizes Cedartown to exercise all redevelopment powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law and the related state constitutional provision, including tax allocation districts and bonds.
• Section 2 requires a referendum held on the Tuesday after the third Tuesday in June 2025, with election notice published in Polk County's official organ at set intervals beforehand.
• Section 2 specifies that Section 1 takes effect immediately if more than half the votes cast favor approval.
• Section 2 states the entire Act is automatically repealed on the following January 1 if voters reject it or the election is not properly conducted.
• Section 3 sets the bill's general effective date as upon the Governor's approval or becoming law without approval, except as modified by the referendum outcome in Section 2.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-14Effective Date 2025-05-14
2. 2025-05-14Act 328
3. 2025-05-14House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-08House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-28House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 28, 2025

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

   Local Calendar : House Vote #332

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   51 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #381

• local government
• redevelopment law
• tax allocation districts
• Cedartown referendum
• Polk County