HB 1415: Stone Mountain Memorial Association; hold all real property obtained before January 1, 1971, in trust; require

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Discussed in meetings (14)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. House Game, Fish & Parks Committee, February 24, 2026

   From 0:06:46 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter, speaking for the governor, said HB 1415 would protect Stone Mountain Park land acquired before January 1, 1971, allow management and sale of later-acquired properties, and require State Properties Commission oversight of real estate transactions. The presenter cited more than $40 million in deferred maintenance. Asked about inventory requirements, a governor’s office representative said property records were scattered and the bill would require a complete inventory maintained through the commission. The representative said sale proceeds would stay with the association, with the hope of funding maintenance rather than using state appropriations or bonds. In response to questions, the representative said the bill would not change other authorities’ powers, including Jekyll Island’s prohibition on selling land, or reduce public access to Stone Mountain Park. Possible sales discussed included off-site houses, downtown parcels and the former DeKalb Airport property. The representative said sales could put tax-exempt land onto county tax rolls and support development. During acreage questions, the representative disputed the commonly cited 3,200-acre figure and estimated the original park at about 1,692 acres. The chair cited maintenance, safety and staffing burdens associated with later acquisitions. The committee approved the bill by voice vote, with one opposing vote recorded.

2. House Rules Committee, February 26, 2026

   From 0:26:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: A presenter speaking on behalf of the governor said HB 1415 would preserve Stone Mountain Park’s original boundaries while allowing the Stone Mountain Memorial Association flexibility to manage properties outside that footprint. The presenter said property acquisitions and disposals would have to follow state procedures, and the association would have to comply with state property inventory and filing requirements. A committee member asked whether the bill affected Jekyll Island or other state conservation properties. The presenter said it did not affect Jekyll Island and explained that the Jekyll Island language had been restored during code revisions. No further action was shown.

3. House floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, PM, part 2)

   From 4:00:59 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2280

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1415, brought on behalf of the governor, would protect Stone Mountain Park's original footprint assembled between 1959 and 1970 while allowing more flexible management of later-acquired, non-core properties. The sponsor said real estate transactions would require State Properties Commission review and approval. Asked about the property's original purpose and what the bill would protect, the sponsor said the original park boundaries would be held in trust for Georgians and could not be sold, while later-acquired properties could be sold if needed. The House passed the bill 138-24.

4. House Rules Committee, March 6, 2026

   From 1:25:49 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2179

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 1415 on the supplemental floor calendar under modified structured rules. No substantive discussion occurred.

5. Senate Government Oversight Committee, March 17, 2026

   From 0:17:17 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would protect Stone Mountain Park's original footprint, assembled between 1959 and 1970, while allowing more flexibility to manage properties acquired later outside that footprint. The sponsor said property transactions would require State Properties Commission review and approval. One committee member asked whether sales would remain limited to public road rights of way. A presenter explained that later-acquired properties, including residential houses and airport property, could be sold through ordinary land transactions. The member then confirmed that property acquired before January 1, 1971, would remain protected. Another member asked about increased oversight. A presenter said property records were scattered across several sources and that the bill would require a full inventory, provide oversight of purchases and sales, and help ensure fair-market-value transactions. The committee approved the bill unanimously and discussed who would carry it in the Senate.

6. Senate Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

   From 0:46:46 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor described the measure as a governor's bill that would protect Stone Mountain Memorial Park's original boundaries in trust for Georgia. The sponsor said all property owned by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association would come under State Properties Commission authority and review. No questions or scheduling decision followed.

7. Senate Rules Committee, March 20, 2026

   From 0:28:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor renewed a request for consideration, saying the bill had been presented previously. No explanation of its provisions, questions or calendar decision followed.

8. Senate Rules Committee, March 23, 2026

   From 0:26:37 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1415 would protect Stone Mountain Park's boundaries. The sponsor also relayed the carrying senator's description of it as reducing government. No questions or vote followed.

9. Senate floor session, March 31, 2026 (legislative day 39, part 1)

   From 6:55:27 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 1415, presented on behalf of the governor, would protect Stone Mountain Park's original footprint while allowing management of later-acquired, non-core properties. The sponsor said land acquired from 1959 through 1970 formed the original park and that later purchases included parcels intended for projects that did not proceed. Citing more than $40 million in deferred maintenance, the sponsor argued that the association needed flexibility over those additional properties. The sponsor said transactions would require State Properties Commission review and approval. No substantive objections or questions followed. The Senate passed the bill 47-0.

• Read aloud: House floor session, February 24, 2026 (legislative day 23), 0:47:07
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 25, 2026 (legislative day 24), 0:45:08
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 9, 2026 (legislative day 29), 0:27:43
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 0:31:01
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34), 0:48:55

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