Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 516: State government; authorize county and regional library boards to conduct meetings via teleconference
Last action July 1, 2025 · Effective Date
House Bill 516 lets county and regional library boards and community service boards hold meetings by teleconference, and it names the Georgia Attorney General as the official who approves certain bonds for charter school buildings.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia's open meetings law (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1) currently allows certain bodies, such as development authorities and hospital authorities, to meet by teleconference. This bill adds county and regional public library boards and community service boards to that list. To use teleconferencing, at least half of the board members must still be physically present at a set location, and the board must offer the public a way to watch and comment without attending in person. The bill also adds a new section to Title 50 naming the Attorney General as the 'applicable elected representative' under federal tax law who can approve private activity bonds used to finance or refinance state charter school facilities. The Attorney General must hold a public hearing within 60 days of a written request and decide on approval within 30 days after that hearing, if the charter school and facility meet specific legal requirements.
What the bill does
- Adds county and regional public library boards to the list of bodies allowed to meet by teleconference under Georgia's open meetings law (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1).
- Adds community service boards to that same teleconferencing authorization, with the same physical-presence and public-access conditions.
- Requires that at least 50 percent of a library or community service board's members be physically present at any teleconference meeting.
- Requires these boards to offer the public a way to watch the meeting and submit comments without attending in person.
- Creates a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 50-1-14) naming the Attorney General as the official who can approve private activity bonds for financing state charter school facilities.
- Sets deadlines requiring the Attorney General to hold a public hearing within 60 days of a request and decide on bond approval within 30 days of that hearing.
Who it affects
County and regional public library boards, community service boards (which handle mental health, developmental disability, and addiction services), the Attorney General's office, state charter schools seeking bond financing for facilities, and members of the public who attend or want to comment at these boards' meetings.
Why it matters
Library and community service board members could participate remotely more easily, potentially making it simpler to reach a quorum, while the law still requires half the board to be present in person and requires a way for the public to watch and comment. The bond provision gives charter schools a clearer, time-limited path to get facility financing approved.
Key provisions
- Section 1 creates O.C.G.A. § 50-1-14, designating the Attorney General as the approving official for private activity bonds financing state charter school facilities under federal tax law (26 U.S.C. § 147).
- Section 1 requires the Attorney General to hold a public hearing within 60 days of receiving a written request, and to approve qualifying bond issuances within 30 days of that hearing.
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1(h) to add county and regional public library boards (new subsection (E)) and community service boards (new subsection (F)) to the list of bodies that may hold teleconference meetings.
- Section 2 requires that at least 50 percent of members of these boards be physically present at a set location during any teleconference meeting.
- Section 2 requires these boards to provide the public a method to view meetings and submit comments remotely.
- Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“The board of trustees of any county or regional public library created pursuant to Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 20; provided, however, that such meetings: (i) Shall be held at a physical location with at least 50 percent of the board members physically present”
“Shall provide one or more methods for public viewing of such meetings and providing commentary at such meetings without being physically present at such meetings.”
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 271
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
Show full history (18 actions)
- Senate Tabled (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Kimberly New (R, HD-40)
- Lee Hawkins (R, HD-27)
- Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)
- Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-14)
- Holt Persinger (R, HD-119)
- Rob Leverett (R, HD-123)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
Votes
- House voteMarch 4, 2025
164 yea, 5 nay (6 not voting, 5 excused)
- Senate voteApril 4, 2025
49 yea, 1 nay (5 not voting, 1 excused)
- House voteApril 4, 2025
94 yea, 71 nay (3 not voting, 12 excused)
Topics
- public libraries
- open meetings law
- charter schools
- bond financing
- community service boards