HB 548: Albany-Dougherty Inner City Authority Act; enact

The Albany-Dougherty Inner City Authority is a public body created in 1977 to help redevelop and fund projects in the City of Albany and Dougherty County. This bill does not create a new authority; instead it restates and updates the existing law that governs it, replacing Sections 1 through 12 of the original 1977 Act (as amended in 1980, 1981, and 2017) with a revised version. The rewritten law spells out definitions, keeps the authority's seven appointed members plus the mayor as a nonvoting ex officio member, and confirms officers, quorum rules, and conflict of interest protections. It restates the authority's broad powers to acquire, finance, lease, or sell projects, to issue revenue bonds for up to 40 years, and to act as a redevelopment agency under Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36). It also confirms the authority's tax exemptions, immunity from certain lawsuits similar to the city's, and that its property cannot be seized to pay debts except property specifically pledged as bond collateral. The changes apply going forward and do not affect projects or bonds issued before the law takes effect.

• Restates and updates the existing law creating the Albany-Dougherty Inner City Authority rather than creating a new entity.
• Confirms the authority's structure of seven city commission appointed members plus a nonvoting ex officio mayor, each serving two year terms.
• Authorizes the authority to issue revenue bonds maturing in up to 40 years to pay for redevelopment projects in Albany and Dougherty County.
• Grants the authority tax exemptions and protects its property from being seized to pay debts, except property specifically pledged to secure bonds.
• Gives the authority the same immunity from lawsuits over torts and negligence that the City of Albany has for its officers and employees.
• States that the law's changes apply only going forward and do not disturb bonds or projects the authority already has underway.

The Albany-Dougherty Inner City Authority and its board members, the City of Albany and Dougherty County governments, holders of the authority's revenue bonds, private developers who might partner with the authority on redevelopment projects, and residents of Albany and Dougherty County who could be affected by downtown or urban redevelopment projects.

By restating and clarifying the authority's powers, membership rules, and bond authority, the bill affects how Albany and Dougherty County can finance and carry out redevelopment projects such as property acquisition, construction, and public-private partnerships, while protecting existing bondholders and clarifying the authority's legal immunities and tax status.

• Section 1 (new Section 1 and 2) provides a short title, 'Albany-Dougherty Inner City Authority Act,' and defines key terms like 'project,' 'costs of the project,' and 'public bodies.'
• New Section 3 continues the authority as a public corporate body, sets its membership at seven appointed members plus a nonvoting ex officio mayor, and describes quorum and voting rules.
• New Section 4 lists the authority's powers, including contracting, acquiring and selling property, borrowing money, and exercising redevelopment powers delegated by the city or county.
• New Section 5 authorizes revenue bonds maturing in up to 40 years, states such bonds do not obligate the city or county's taxing power, and requires bond validation in Dougherty County Superior Court.
• New Section 6 gives the authority and its employees the same tort immunity as the City of Albany.
• New Section 7 shields authority property from levy and sale except property pledged to secure bond obligations.
• New Section 9 states that authority earnings cannot benefit private individuals and that property reverts to the city if the authority dissolves.
• New Section 11 clarifies that the law's changes apply only prospectively and preserves protections for holders of bonds issued before the changes take effect.

1. 2025-03-11Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-03-10House Passed/Adopted (House)
3. 2025-03-10House Third Readers (House)
4. 2025-03-10House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2025-02-24House Second Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-21House First Readers (House)
7. 2025-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)Primary sponsor
• Bill Yearta (R, HD-152)
• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)
• David Sampson (D, HD-153)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 10, 2025

   165 yea, 0 nay (8 not voting, 7 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #270

• local development authority
• Albany Georgia
• Dougherty County
• revenue bonds
• redevelopment law