HB 1523: Sumter County Public Facilities Authority; create

This bill sets up a new public corporation called the Sumter County Public Facilities Authority. The authority would be run by five members appointed by the Sumter County Board of Commissioners, serving staggered three-year terms, and would have the power to acquire property, build and operate public buildings and facilities, and hire staff. To pay for these projects, which could serve the county, the Sumter County School System, or any city within the county, the authority could issue revenue bonds with maturities up to 40 years. These bonds would be repaid only from project revenues, not from county or state tax dollars, and would not count as public debt. The bill also sets rules for bond validation in Sumter County Superior Court, grants the authority tort immunity similar to the county's, and provides that its assets would revert to the county if the authority is ever dissolved.

• Creates the Sumter County Public Facilities Authority as a political subdivision of the state with power to sue, be sued, and hold property.
• Establishes a five-member board appointed by the Sumter County Board of Commissioners, with staggered three-year terms and a 21-year minimum age requirement.
• Authorizes the authority to issue revenue bonds, capped at 40-year maturities, to fund construction of public buildings and facilities.
• Specifies that revenue bonds are not backed by county or state taxes and create no obligation for the county to levy taxes to pay them.
• Grants the authority tax exemption on its property and tort immunity equal to that of Sumter County government.
• Requires that if the authority is dissolved, its remaining assets pass to Sumter County.

Sumter County residents, the Sumter County Board of Commissioners, the Sumter County School System, municipalities within the county, and potential bondholders or investors who might purchase revenue bonds issued by the new authority.

The bill gives Sumter County a new financing tool to build public buildings and facilities, such as those used by the school system or local government, without directly using county tax revenue, since bond repayment comes from project revenues rather than taxpayer funds.

• Section 2 creates the authority and sets appointment rules, terms, quorum requirements, and eligibility criteria for its five members.
• Section 4 lists the authority's powers, including acquiring property, borrowing money, and contracting for construction and services.
• Section 5 authorizes revenue bonds for project costs or refunding prior bonds, capping bond maturity at 40 years.
• Section 9 states that revenue bonds do not constitute debt of the state or county and do not require any tax pledge to repay them.
• Section 12 requires revenue bonds to be validated through the Revenue Bond Law process in Sumter County Superior Court.
• Section 17 grants the authority the same tort immunity as Sumter County government.
• Section 18 exempts the authority's property and bonds from taxation but not from sales and use tax on purchases.
• Section 19 provides that authority assets revert to Sumter County if the authority is dissolved.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Tabled (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-03-27Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
4. 2026-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Withdrawn & Recommitted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-23Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
7. 2026-03-20House Passed/Adopted (House)
8. 2026-03-20House Third Readers (House)

• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)Primary sponsor
• Patty Stinson (D, HD-150)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 20, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (14 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #734

• local government authority
• public facilities financing
• revenue bonds
• Sumter County government