HB 730: Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless; provide for membership

The Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless was created by a 1989 local Act. HB730 amends that Act to update the authority's structure and duties. It sets the board at 13 members, with two appointed by the Savannah City Council, two by the Chatham County Commission, and nine chosen through the board's own process, all serving three-year terms limited to two consecutive terms. One member must have current or past experience with homelessness, and all members must live in Chatham County. The bill also updates definitions used in the Act (such as 'homeless,' 'CoC,' and 'coordinated entry'), requires the board to meet at least six times a year plus one additional annual meeting, sets a 40 percent quorum requirement, and requires an annual report to the city, county, and the Interagency Council on Homelessness for Chatham-Savannah. All current directors except the executive committee lose their seats once the 2025 amendment takes effect, and a new organizational meeting must happen within 45 days.

• Resets the authority's governing board to 13 members: two appointed by the Savannah City Council, two by the Chatham County Commission, and nine selected through the board's own process.
• Requires one board member to currently or formerly have experienced homelessness and requires all members to live in Chatham County.
• Limits board members to three-year terms with a maximum of two consecutive terms, and allows removal by majority vote of the full board for failing to carry out duties.
• Requires the board to hold an organizational meeting within 45 days of the amendment's effective date and removes all directors except the executive committee at that point.
• Sets meeting and quorum rules: at least six regular meetings plus one additional annual meeting, decisions by majority of a quorum, and quorum set at 40 percent of membership.
• Updates the authority's defined purposes and terms, including its role as the collaborative applicant working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Interagency Council on Homelessness for Chatham-Savannah.

The Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless and its board members, the Savannah City Council, the Chatham County Commission, the Interagency Council on Homelessness for Chatham-Savannah, and organizations and individuals in Chatham County that rely on or provide services for people experiencing homelessness.

The changes determine who sits on the board overseeing homeless services coordination in Savannah and Chatham County, how often it meets, and how it reports to local government. Because current directors (other than the executive committee) lose their seats when the amendment takes effect, the board's makeup will change soon after the law is signed.

• Section 1 revises Section 2(d) to clarify the authority's role as the CoC (Continuum of Care) collaborative applicant working with HUD and the Interagency Council on Homelessness for Chatham-Savannah.
• Section 2 rewrites Section 3's definitions, including 'homeless,' 'coordinated entry,' 'collaborative applicant,' and 'notice of funding opportunity.'
• Section 3 revises Section 5 to set a 13-member board with specified appointment sources, three-year terms (two-term limit), Chatham County residency requirement, no compensation, and removal procedures.
• Section 4 revises Section 6, requiring an organizational meeting within 45 days of the 2025 amendment's effective date, removing prior directors except the executive committee, setting a 40 percent quorum, and requiring at least six meetings plus one annual meeting.
• Section 5 revises Section 7 to update the authority's purposes, including data-sharing with the Interagency Council, contracting with public and private agencies, and providing direct services such as street outreach and case management.
• Section 6 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-01Effective Date
2. 2025-05-01Act 49
3. 2025-05-01House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-28Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-28Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-21House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)Primary sponsor
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)
• Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 21, 2025

   158 yea, 0 nay (9 not voting, 13 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #293

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 28, 2025

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 2 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #313

• homelessness services
• Chatham County government
• Savannah city government
• local authority boards
• HUD funding coordination