---
title: HB 351. Board of Natural Resources; modify powers and duties
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb351
cite_as: HB 351, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb351
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb351.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb351/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70113
date: 2025-05-14
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb350.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb352.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 1469
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb351.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 351
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-05-14
last_action: Effective Date 2026-01-01
sponsors:
  - John Corbett
  - Charles Cannon
  - Lynn Smith
  - Vance Smith
  - Robert Dickey
  - Russ Goodman
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB351/2025
upstream_id: 1964649
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - solid waste management
  - landfill permits
  - environmental regulation
  - local zoning
  - public notice requirements
---

# HB 351. Board of Natural Resources; modify powers and duties

## Text

25 HB 351/AP
House Bill 351 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Corbett of the 174th, Cannon of the 172nd, Smith of the 70th, Smith of the
138th, and Dickey of the 134th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Of ficial Code of Georgia1
Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding solid waste management, so as to modify2
the powers and duties of the Board of Natural Resources; to rev ise definitions; to modify3
solid waste permitting; to provide for submission of written ve rification regarding4
compliance with local zoning and land use regulations; to remov e certain restrictions on5
permits; to revise provisions regarding public meetings and not ice; to remove outdated6
terminology; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,10
relating to general provisions regarding solid waste management , is amended by revising11
paragraphs (16) and (37) of Code Section 12-8-22, relating to definitions, as follows:12
"(16) 'Manifest' means a form or document used for identifying the quantity and13
composition and the origin, routing, and destination of special solid waste during its14
transportation from the point of generation, through any intermediate points, to the point15
of disposal, treatment, or storage."16
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"(37) 'Special solid waste' means any solid waste not otherwise regulated under Part 117
of Article 3 of this chapter, known as the 'Georgia Hazardous Waste Management Act,'18
and regulations promulgated under such part originating or produced from or by a source19
or generator not subject to regulation under Code Section 12-8-24 Reserved."20
SECTION 2.21
Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 12-8-23, relating to powers and duties22
of board, as follows:23
"12-8-23.24
In the performance of its duties the board shall have and may exercise the power to:25
(1) Adopt, promulgate, modify, amend, and repeal rules and reg ulations to implement26
and enforce the provisions of this part as the board may deem n ecessary to provide for27
the control and management of solid waste to protect the environment and the health of28
humans. Such rules and regulations may be applicable to the st ate as a whole or may29
vary from area to area or may vary by waste characteristics, as may be appropriate to30
facilitate the accomplishment of the provisions, purposes, and policies of this part. The31
rules and regulations may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:32
(A) Rules and regulations governing and controlling solid waste handling, including33
measures to ensure that solid waste management practices are regulated, governed, and34
controlled in the public interest;35
(B) Rules and regulations prescribing the procedure to be foll owed in applying for36
permits and requiring the submission of such plans, specificati ons, verifications, and37
other pertinent information deemed relevant in connection with the issuance of such38
permits;39
(C) Rules and regulations concerning the establishment of permits by rule;40
(D) Rules and regulations establishing the use of a manifest during the generation and41
handling of special solid waste Reserved;42
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(E) Rules and regulations governing and controlling the handling of special solid waste43
and biomedical waste;44
(F) Rules and regulations establishing criteria and a system o f priorities for the45
distribution of any state funds as may be made available through a grant-in-aid program46
to assist financially local governmental agencies or authoritie s in the planning,47
implementing, maintaining, or operating of solid waste handling systems which are48
consistent with local and regional solid waste management plans;49
(G) Rules and regulations establishing procedures and requirements for the postclosure50
care of all solid waste disposal facilities, including but not limited to corrective action51
of releases, ground-water monitoring, and maintenance of final cover;52
(H) Rules and regulations establishing the criteria for approv al, time periods for53
coverage, and other terms and conditions for the demonstration of financial54
responsibility required by this part and for the implementation of financial55
responsibility instruments;56
(I) Rules and regulations establishing qualifications for municipal solid waste disposal57
facility operators and certification of such operators through colleges or universities of58
the University System of Georgia or other organizations as may be determined59
acceptable by the board;60
(J) Rules and regulations regulating the generation, collection, processing, and disposal61
of scrap tires and the collection, inventory, and marketing of used tires and governing62
the investigation and cleanup of sites where scrap tires have been disposed regardless63
of the date when such disposal occurred; and64
(K) Rules and regulations further defining what shall or shall not constitute 'recovered65
materials'; and66
(2) Take all necessary steps to ensure the effective enforcement of this part."67
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SECTION 3.68
Said part is further amended in Code Section 12-8-24, relating to permits for solid waste or69
special solid waste handling, disposal, or thermal treatment te chnology facility and70
inspection of solid waste generators, by revising subsections (a), (c), and (d), paragraph (2)71
of subsection (e), and subsections (g) and (h) as follows:72
"(a) No person shall engage in solid waste or special solid was te handling in Georgia or73
construct or operate a solid waste handling facility in Georgia , except those individuals74
exempted from this part under Code Section 12-8-30.10, without first obtaining a permit75
from the director authorizing such activity."76
"(c) On or after March 30, 1990, any permit for the transportation of municipal solid waste77
from a jurisdiction generating solid waste to a municipal solid waste disposal facility78
located in another county shall be conditioned upon the jurisdiction generating solid waste79
developing and being actively involved in, by Ju ly 1, 1992, a s trategy for meeting the80
state-wide goal of waste reduction by July 1, 1996 Reserved.81
(d) If the director determines that such activity will result in any violation of this part or82
any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to this part, he the director shall deny the83
permit; otherwise, he t h e d i r e c t o r shall issue the permit, specifying on the permit the84
conditions under which such activity shall be conducted; provided, however, that a public85
hearing shall be held by the governing authority of the county or municipality in which the86
municipal solid waste or special solid waste handling shall occur not less than two weeks87
prior to the issuance of any permit under this Code section and notice of such hearing shall88
be posted at the proposed site and advertised in a newspaper of general circulation serving89
the county or counties in which the proposed activity will be c onducted at least 30 days90
prior to such hearing."91
"(2) Prior to the granting of any major modification of an existing solid waste handling92
permit by the director, a public h earing shall be held by the governing authority of the93
county or municipality in which the municipal solid waste facility or special solid waste94
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handling facility requesting the modification is located not less than two weeks prior to95
the issuance of any permit under this Code section and notice o f such hearing shall be96
posted at the site of such facility and advertised in a newspap er of general circulation97
serving the county or counties in which such facility is located at least 30 days prior to98
such hearing."99
"(g)(1) Prior to the issuance of The director shall require that an applicant for any permit100
for a solid waste handling facility or the granting of any major modification of an existing101
solid waste handling permit, the director shall require written verification to be furnished102
by the applicant submit to the division written verification from an authorized official of103
the host local government for the facility or proposed facility or major modification that104
is no more than 36 months old from the date of application that:105
(A) Identifies the type of facility or proposed facility;106
(B) Describes the location of such facility or proposed facili ty by tax parcel107
identification number or legal description;108
(C) Expressly states that the facility or proposed facility complies with local zoning or109
land use ordinances, if any or that there are no such local zoning or land use ordinances;110
and after July 1, 1992, and111
(D) States that the facility or proposed facility is consistent with the local,112
multijurisdictional, or regional solid waste management plan de veloped and adopted113
by the host local government in accordance with standards promulgated pursuant to this114
part subject to the provisions of Code Section 12-8-31.1 and that the host jurisdiction115
and all jurisdictions generating solid waste destined for the a pplicants' facility can116
demonstrate that they are part of an approved solid waste plan developed in accordance117
with standards promulgated pursuant to this part and are actively involved in and have118
a strategy for meeting the state-wide goal of waste reduction by July 1, 1996. Prior to119
the issuance of any permit for a solid waste handling facility or the granting of any120
major modification of an existing solid waste handling permit t hat will handle solid121
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waste from jurisdictions outside Georgia, the out-of-state soli d waste generating122
jurisdictions shall provide documentation that they have a strategy for and are actively123
involved in meeting planning requirements and a waste reduction goal that are124
substantially equivalent to the planning requirements and waste reduction goal125
contained in this part.126
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, written verification may be executed127
by an administrative official or employee of the host local government only if that person128
has been authorized to provide the written verification by ordinance or resolution of the129
governing authority. In the absence of such authorization, written verification shall be130
executed by the chief elected official of the governing authori ty of the host local131
government.132
(3) Such written verification from the host local government shall constitute a133
determination that the facility or proposed facility or major m odification is consistent134
with the applicable requirements of subsection (e) of Code Section 12-8-31.1.135
(h) No permit for a disposal facility shall be issued to any r egional solid waste136
management authority created under Part 2 of this article, the 'Regional Solid Waste137
Management Authorities Act,' until local and regional solid was te management plans138
consistent with this part have been developed for all jurisdict ions participating in such139
authority and such plans are found to be consistent with the state solid waste management140
plan pursuant to described in subsection (d) (c) of Code Section 12-8-31.1 12-8-31."141
SECTION 4.142
Said part is further amended in Code Section 12-8-25.3, relatin g to further restrictions on143
sites within significant ground-water recharge area or near mil itary air space used as144
bombing range, by revising subsections (a) and (b) as follows:145
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section 12-8-25.2, no permit shall be issued146
for a municipal solid waste landfill which accepts solid waste generated from outside the147
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county in which such landfill is located or, in the case of a regional landfill, from outside148
any of the counties or special districts empowered to engage in solid waste management149
activities constituting such region if any part of such site is within any area that has been150
designated by the director as a significant ground-water recharge area Reserved.151
(b) In addition to the provisions of subsection (a) of this Co de section, in the case of a152
regional municipal solid waste landfill where any part of such site is within any area that153
has been designated by the director as a significant ground-water recharge area, no permit154
shall be issued for such regional landfill unless the boundarie s of the counties or special155
districts empowered to engage in solid waste management activit ies are contiguous and156
such counties or special districts have entered into a joint co ntract for the collection and157
disposal of solid waste Reserved."158
SECTION 5.159
Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 12-8-26, relating to public meetings160
on site selection, notice, and decision, as follows:161
"12-8-26.162
(a) Any county, municipality, group of counties, or government authority beginning a163
p r o c ess t o s e l e c t a s i t e f o r on which such county, municipality, group of counties, or164
government authority intends to own or operate a municipal solid waste disposal facility165
must first call at least one public meeting to discuss waste management needs of the local166
government or region and to describe the process of siting facilities to the public. Notice167
of this meeting shall be published within a newspaper of general circulation serving such168
county or municipality at least once a week for two weeks 14 days and again at least seven169
days immediately preceding the date of such meeting. A regional solid waste management170
authority created under Part 2 of this article must hold at lea st one meeting within each171
jurisdiction participating in such authority, and notice for these meetings must be published172
within a newspaper of general circulation serving each such jur isdiction at least once a173
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week for two weeks 14 days and again at least seven days immediately preceding the date174
of such meeting.175
(b) The governing authority of any county or municipality taki ng action resulting in a176
publicly or privately owned municipal solid waste disposal faci lity siting decision shall177
cause to be published within a newspaper of general circulation serving such county or178
municipality a notice of the meeting at which such siting decis ion is to be made at least179
once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date of such meeting. Such notice180
shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting and the meeting shall be conducted181
by the governing authority taking the action. A siting decisio n shall include, but is not182
limited to, such activities as the final selection of property for landfilling and the execution183
of contracts or agreements pertaining to the location of munici pal solid waste disposal184
facilities within the jurisdiction, but shall not include zoning decisions Before a host local185
government verifies in writing that a proposed new public or private municipal solid waste186
disposal facility or a major modification expanding the permit boundaries of an existing187
facility is consistent with the local, multijurisdictional, or regional solid waste management188
plan adopted by the host local government and local zoning or l and use ordinances, as189
required by subsection (g) of Code Section 12-8-24, the governi ng authority of the host190
local government shall comply with the notice and meeting requirements set forth in this191
part. Prior to issuing written verification, such governing authority shall cause a notice of192
the meeting at which the public will be informed of the propose d new facility or major193
modification expanding the permit boundaries of an existing facility to be published in a194
newspaper of general circulation serving such local government. The meeting notice shall195
be published at least 14 days and again at least seven days pre ceding the date of such196
meeting. The meeting notice shall identify the governing autho rity of the host local197
government jurisdiction that will conduct the meeting and shall include the time, place, and198
purpose of the meeting. During the meeting on the proposed new facility or major199
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modification expanding the perm it boundaries of an existing fac ility, the governing200
authority of the host local government shall inform the public of:201
(1) The location of the proposed new facility or major modification expanding the permit202
boundaries of an existing facility;203
(2) The type of facility and operations proposed; and204
(3) The process by which such governing authority shall provide the written verification205
described in subsection (g) of Code Section 12-8-24."206
SECTION 6.207
Said part is further amended in Code Section 12-8-27.1, relating to Solid Waste Trust Fund,208
by revising paragraph (1) of subsection (e) as follows:209
"(e)(1) If the director determines that a solid waste or special solid waste handling facility210
has been abandoned, that the owner or operator thereof has become insolvent, or that for211
any other reason there is a demonstrated unwillingness or inabi lity of the owner or212
operator to maintain, operate, or close the facility, to carry out postclosure care of the213
facility, or to carry out corrective action required as a condi tion of a permit to the214
satisfaction of the director, the director may implement the ap plicable financial215
responsibility mechanisms. The proceeds from any applicable fi nancial responsibility216
mechanisms shall be deposited into the Solid Waste Trust fund."217
SECTION 7.218
Said part is further amended in Code Section 12-8-31.1, relating to local, multijurisdictional,219
or regional solid waste plans, reporting by cities and counties , and annual reporting220
requirements for landfill owners and operators, by revising subsections (a) and (d) through221
(h) as follows:222
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"(a)(1) Each city and county in Georgia shall develop or be included in a comprehensive223
solid waste management plan. Said plan may be developed independently as a local plan224
or jointly with other jurisdictions as a multijurisdictional or regional solid waste plan.225
(2)(A) The Department of Community Affairs under the provisions of Chapter 13 of226
Title 50 shall promulgate solid waste planning guidance that a city or county may use227
to update or amend such city's or county's solid waste plan.228
(B) Any city or county that proposes to update or amend its solid waste management229
plan shall publish notice of such proposed action in the county legal organ or the city's230
or county's Internet website, as applicable, at least two weeks prior to adopting s uch231
update or amendment to its plan in accordance with subsection (c) of this Code section."232
"(d) Each city and county may report annually to the Department of Community Affairs233
division on the status of solid waste management in the jurisdiction or may post such234
reports on its website. Such reports may be individual or collective in nature or, in lieu of235
local reports, a regional report may be filed by any of the several regional commissions for236
political jurisdictions within their region. The annual report may include but not be limited237
to:238
(1) The amount of solid waste collected, processed, and disposed of in the area;239
(2) The progress on the reduction in solid waste, as evidenced by the solid waste240
received at disposal facilities in the planning area since the previous reporting period and241
total cumulative progress made toward meeting the waste reduction goals of the state;242
(3) The remaining permitted capacity of disposal facilities;243
(4) Recycling and composting activities in existence;244
(5) Public information and education activities during the reporting period; and245
(6) Any other pertinent information as may be required.246
(e) After July 1, 1992, no permit, grant, or loan shall be issued for any municipal solid247
waste disposal facility or any solid waste handling equipment o r recycling equipment248
used in conjunction therewith in a county or region which is not consistent with a local,249
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multijurisdictional, or regional solid waste management plan. Each application for a250
permit, major modification, grant, or loan issued after July 1, 1992, shall include the251
following:252
(1) Certification that the facility for which a permit or majo r modification is sought253
complies with local land use and or zoning requirements, if any;254
(2) Verification that the facility for which a permit, major m odification, grant, or loan255
is sought meets the ten-year capacity needs identified in the is consistent with the256
applicable local, multijurisdictional, or regional solid waste management plan; and257
(3) Demonstration that the host jurisdiction and all jurisdictions generating solid waste258
destined for the applicant's facility are part of an approved local government has adopted259
a solid waste management plan or updated plan developed consiste nt with standards260
promulgated pursuant to this part, and are actively involved in, and have a strategy for,261
meeting the state-wide goal for reduction of solid waste disposal in accordance with the262
requirements of subsection (c) of this Code section.263
(f) This Code section shall not apply to:264
(1) Any any solid waste disposal facility which is operated exclusively by a private solid265
waste generator on property owned by the private solid waste generator for the purpose266
of accepting solid waste exclusively from the private solid waste generator so long as the267
operation of the solid waste disposal facility does not adversely affect the public health268
or the environment. After commencement of operation by a private solid waste generator269
of a solid waste disposal facility which is permitted but not included in a local or regional270
solid waste management plan, an amendment into a local or regio nal solid waste271
management plan shall be required for any solid waste which is to be no longer disposed272
of by the private solid waste generator in its own solid waste disposal facility prior to any273
substantial reduction in the amount of solid waste accepted by the solid waste disposal274
facility or its closure; or.275
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(2) Any privately owned solid waste handling facility seeking a permit or major276
modification of an existing permit where the host local governing authority has failed to277
make a good faith effort, as determined by the Department of Co mmunity Affairs, to278
develop and adopt a local solid waste management plan or to be included in a279
multijurisdictional or regional solid waste management plan; provided, however, that the280
permit applicant continues to be obligated to demonstrate that all generating jurisdictions281
from which waste will be received are part of an approved solid waste management plan282
developed in accordance with planning guidance promulgated pursuant to this part and283
have a strategy to meet and are actively engaged in meeting the state-wide goal of284
reducing waste.285
(g) Effective July 1, 1991, it It shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator of each286
municipal solid waste disposal facility to keep an accurate written record of all amounts of287
solid waste measured in tons received at the facility. Measurement in tons of solid waste288
received shall be accomplished by one or more of the following methods:289
(1) The provision of stationary or portable scales at the disp osal facility for weighing290
incoming waste;291
(2) Implementation of contractual or other arrangements for th e use of scales at a292
location other than the disposal facility for weighing all waste destined for disposal at the293
facility; or294
(3) Implementation of contractual or other arrangements for th e use of scales at a295
location other than the disposal facility to weigh representative samples of the solid waste296
received at the disposal facility on a basis which is sufficien tly frequent to estimate297
accurately the amount of solid waste received at the disposal facility.298
(h) The provisions of subsection (d) of this Code section notwithstanding, each public or299
private owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill s hall report annually to the300
Department of Community Affairs division on the status of solid waste management for301
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each municipal solid waste landfill it owns or operates in this state. The annual report for302
each such landfill shall include but not be limited to:303
(1) The amount of solid waste collected, processed, and disposed of at such landfill;304
(2) The remaining permitted capacity of the landfill;305
(3) Recycling and composting activities in existence Quantities of material recycled and306
composted annually at such landfill; and307
(4) Any other pertinent information as may be required by the Department of308
Community Affairs division."309
SECTION 8.310
Said part is further amended in Code Section 12-8-39, relating to cost reimbursement fees,311
surcharges, exempt contracts, and reporting, by revising subsection (c) as follows:312
"(c) Effective January 1, 1992, when a municipal solid waste disposal facility is operated313
as a joint venture by more than one city or county or combination thereof, by a special solid314
waste district, or by an authority, the cost reimbursement fee specified in this Code section315
shall be imposed by the joint operators, district, or authority and the cost reimbursement316
fee received shall be administered as outlined in subsection (b ) of this Code section and317
shall be remitted into a restricted account established by the participating local318
governments."319
SECTION 9.320
This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026.321
SECTION 10.322
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.323
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## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

House Bill 351 rewrites parts of Georgia's solid waste management law, changing what the Board of Natural Resources can regulate, easing some permit restrictions, and updating public notice rules for landfill siting meetings.

### Plain-language summary

Georgia's solid waste law (O.C.G.A. Title 12, Chapter 8) gives the Board of Natural Resources power to regulate landfills and other waste facilities and sets rules for permits and public notice. House Bill 351 updates several parts of that law. It revises the definitions of 'manifest' and 'special solid waste,' removes the board's authority to require a manifest tracking form for special solid waste, and eliminates several older restrictions tied to now-outdated statewide waste reduction deadlines from the 1990s.
The bill also removes certain siting restrictions near groundwater recharge areas and military bombing ranges, and it changes the public notice period for meetings on new landfill siting decisions from a 'two weeks' newspaper notice to a flat 14-day requirement plus a seven-day reminder notice. It adds a requirement that permit applicants get written verification from the host local government confirming compliance with local zoning and land use rules. The changes take effect January 1, 2026.

### What it does

- Removes the Board of Natural Resources' rule-making power to require a manifest (tracking document) for special solid waste handling.
- Eliminates outdated permit conditions tied to a 1990s statewide waste reduction goal that no longer applies.
- Requires permit applicants for solid waste facilities to submit written verification from the host local government confirming compliance with local zoning and land use rules.
- Removes restrictions that limited landfill permits near significant groundwater recharge areas or near military air space used as a bombing range.
- Changes the public notice period for landfill siting meetings from 'two weeks' of newspaper notice to a specific 14-day notice plus a seven-day reminder notice.
- Replaces outdated recycling/composting reporting language with a requirement to report actual quantities of material recycled and composted at each landfill.

### Who it affects

The bill affects the Board of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Division, which regulate solid waste facilities; local governments and regional authorities that issue zoning verifications and hold public meetings on landfill siting; landfill owners and operators who must report waste and recycling data; and communities near proposed solid waste facilities.

### Why it matters

Removing older permitting restrictions and waste-reduction conditions could make it easier for some solid waste facilities to get permits, while the new written zoning verification requirement adds a documented check on local land use compliance. Changed notice timelines affect how much advance warning residents get before landfill siting decisions.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 revises definitions of 'manifest' and 'special solid waste' in O.C.G.A. § 12-8-22.
- Section 2 amends the Board of Natural Resources' powers under O.C.G.A. § 12-8-23, removing the rule-making authority for a special solid waste manifest system.
- Section 3 amends permit rules in O.C.G.A. § 12-8-24, removing the outdated 1996 waste-reduction condition on cross-county waste transport permits and adding a requirement for written host-government zoning verification.
- Section 4 removes restrictions on landfill siting near groundwater recharge areas and military bombing ranges under O.C.G.A. § 12-8-25.3.
- Section 5 revises public meeting and notice requirements for landfill siting decisions under O.C.G.A. § 12-8-26, changing the notice period to 14 days plus a seven-day reminder.
- Section 7 updates local and regional solid waste planning and reporting requirements under O.C.G.A. § 12-8-31.1, including replacing general recycling activity reports with reporting of actual recycled and composted quantities.
- Section 9 sets the effective date of the Act as January 1, 2026.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-05-14)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-01-01 (2025-05-14)
- Sponsors: John Corbett, Charles Cannon, Lynn Smith, Vance Smith, Robert Dickey, Russ Goodman
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70113

> The history, votes, and amendments (1,469 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb351.md?full=1
