---
title: HB 570. Local government; acknowledge that certain international organizations have no jurisdiction in this state
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb570
cite_as: HB 570, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb570
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb570.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb570/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70653
date: 2026-03-03
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
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/hb569.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb571.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 199
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb570.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 570
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-21
last_action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
sponsors:
- John Corbett
- James Burchett
- Jason Ridley
- Trey Rhodes
- Charles Cannon
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB570/2025
upstream_id: 1980038
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- property rights
- land use regulation
- local government authority
- international organizations
- zoning and permitting
---
# HB 570. Local government; acknowledge that certain international organizations have no jurisdiction in this state
## Text
The House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment offers the following
substitute to HB 570:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions,
so as to provide for land sovereignty and private property protections; to provide for a short
title; to provide for legislative findings and declarations; to provide for definitions; to limit
the effect of certain designations issued by international organizations; to prohibit the use of
such designations; to provide for certain actions to constitute regulatory takings; to provide
for statutory construction; to provide for a private cause of action; to authorize declaratory
and injunctive relief; to authorize certain fees and costs; to provide for related matters; to
provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Title1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions, is amended
by adding a new chapter to read as follows:
"CHAPTER 6
1-6-1.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the 'Georgia Land Sovereignty and Private
Property Protection Act.'
1-6-2.
The General Assembly finds and declares that:
(1) Georgia is a sovereign state under the Constitution of the United States and the
Constitution of Georgia and has authority over land use, zoning, environmental policy,
health regulations, and private property protections within its borders;
(2) Land use and property regulations are matters of state and local concern and must
remain accountable to elected officials;
(3) International organizations may issue nonbinding designations, recommendations,
or guidance that can be cited or relied upon in regulatory or administrative decision
making;
(4) Georgia citizens have the right to be governed by laws enacted through the legislative
process; and
(5) Clear statutory guidance is necessary to prevent regulatory uncertainty and to protect
constitutional property rights.
1-6-3.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) 'Designation' means a designation, classification, recognition, recommendation, or
guidance.
(2) 'International organization' means a formal entity established by a treaty or
international agreement between two or more sovereign states. Such term includes, but
is not limited to, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, or the World Health Organization.
(3) 'Local government' means any county, municipal corporation, or consolidated
government, or other political subdivision thereof.
(4) 'State agency' means any agency, authority, board, bureau, commission, committee,
department, institution, office, or other instrumentality of the executive, legislative, or
judicial branch of government of this state.
1-6-4.
(a) Any designation issued by an international organization shall have no legal or
regulatory effect within the State of Georgia unless expressly authorized by a statute
enacted by the General Assembly.
(b) Unless expressly authorized by a statute enacted by the General Assembly, no state
agency or local government shall use any designation issued by an international
organization that in any way restricts the use of private property, including, but not limited
to the following:
(1) A basis for policy making, rulemaking, or regulatory enforcement;
(2) A factor in zoning, permitting, land use planning, or environmental review;
(3) Justification for the denial, conditioning, or delay of permits or licenses; or
(4) Evidence in any administrative, judicial, or legislative proceeding.
1-6-5.
(a) No action by a state agency or local government may restrict, condition, or impair the
lawful use, development, or transfer of private property based in whole or in part on a
designation issued by an international organization unless expressly authorized by a statute
enacted by the General Assembly.
(b) Any action by a state agency or local government that directly or indirectly diminishes
the fair market value or reasonable use of private property due to reliance on a designation
issued by an international organization and not expressly authorized by a statute enacted
by the General Assembly shall constitute a regulatory taking requiring just compensation
as provided under Article I, Section III, Paragraph I of the Constitution of Georgia and the
laws of this state.
1-6-6.
Unless expressly authorized by a statute enacted by the General Assembly, no state agency
or local government shall:
(1) Enter into agreements or partnerships with an international organization that
influence land use or property regulation;
(2) Implement or enforce policies derived directly or indirectly from recommendations
from an international organization; or
(3) Promote or participate in a designation process for an international organization
affecting land within the borders of this state.
1-6-7.
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:
(1) Conflict with federal law, treaties, or obligations of the United States;
(2) Limit the authority of the federal government; or
(3) Prohibit voluntary participation by private persons or entities that impose no
regulatory obligation on this state.
(b) This chapter applies solely to the regulatory authority of state agencies and local
government.
(c) This chapter shall be interpreted consistent with the Tenth Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States and Article I of the Constitution of Georgia.
1-6-8.
(a) Any person or entity adversely affected by a violation of this chapter shall have
standing to seek declaratory or injunctive relief.
(b) A prevailing party may recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law
without such approval.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## 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.
A Georgia House bill would bar state agencies and local governments from using designations or guidance from international organizations like the UN, UNESCO, or the World Health Organization to regulate private property or land use.
### Plain-language summary
This bill creates a new chapter of Georgia law called the Georgia Land Sovereignty and Private Property Protection Act. It says that designations, recommendations, or guidance issued by international organizations (bodies formed by treaty between countries, such as the United Nations, UNESCO, or the World Health Organization) have no legal effect in Georgia unless the General Assembly passes a specific law authorizing them.
State agencies and local governments would be barred from using such designations as a basis for zoning, permitting, environmental review, policymaking, or as evidence in legal proceedings, unless the legislature specifically authorizes it. If a government action relying on one of these designations lowers a property's value or restricts its use, the bill says that counts as a regulatory taking requiring just compensation under the Georgia Constitution. It also bars agreements or partnerships with international organizations that influence land use, and lets affected people sue for injunctions, declarations, and attorney's fees. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.
### What it does
- Declares that designations, classifications, or guidance from international organizations have no legal or regulatory effect in Georgia unless the General Assembly specifically authorizes them by statute.
- Bars state agencies and local governments from using such designations in zoning, permitting, land use planning, environmental review, or as evidence in administrative, judicial, or legislative proceedings.
- Classifies any government action that reduces property value or restricts property use based on such a designation as a regulatory taking requiring just compensation under the Georgia Constitution.
- Prohibits state agencies and local governments from entering agreements with international organizations that influence land use or from adopting policies derived from their recommendations.
- Creates a private right to sue for declaratory or injunctive relief for violations, and allows the winning party to recover attorney's fees and court costs.
- Clarifies the law does not override federal law or treaties and applies only to state and local regulatory authority, not private voluntary participation.
### Who it affects
State agencies and local governments in Georgia, including counties, municipalities, and consolidated governments, that use international designations in regulatory decisions; property owners who could sue if such designations restrict their land; and any local officials involved in partnerships tied to bodies like the UN, UNESCO, or the World Health Organization.
### Why it matters
If enacted, Georgia agencies and local governments could no longer cite international designations, such as UNESCO heritage listings or WHO guidance, to justify zoning, permitting, or environmental decisions affecting private property, and doing so anyway could expose the government to lawsuits and compensation claims from property owners.
### Key provisions
- Section 1-6-1 names the new law the 'Georgia Land Sovereignty and Private Property Protection Act.'
- Section 1-6-3 defines 'international organization' to include, but not limit to, the United Nations, UNESCO, and the World Health Organization.
- Section 1-6-4 says international designations have no legal effect in Georgia unless a state statute expressly authorizes them, and bars their use in policymaking, zoning, permitting, or as evidence in proceedings.
- Section 1-6-5(b) declares that government actions relying on such designations that reduce property value or use constitute a regulatory taking requiring just compensation.
- Section 1-6-6 bars agencies and local governments from entering partnerships with international organizations that influence land use or implementing policies derived from their recommendations.
- Section 1-6-7 clarifies the chapter does not conflict with federal law or treaties and applies only to state and local regulatory authority.
- Section 1-6-8 gives adversely affected persons standing to sue for declaratory or injunctive relief and lets prevailing parties recover attorney's fees.
- Section 2 makes the Act effective as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without signature.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-02-21)
- Last action: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (2026-03-03)
- Sponsors: John Corbett, James Burchett, Jason Ridley, Trey Rhodes, Charles Cannon
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70653
> The history, votes, and amendments (199 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb570.md?full=1