HB 734: Vidalia, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Under Georgia law, cities can only use the special financing and planning tools in the state's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36) if the General Assembly passes a local law authorizing them and voters approve it. This bill grants that authorization to the City of Vidalia, allowing it to carry out community redevelopment projects, create tax allocation districts (areas where future property tax growth is used to pay for redevelopment), issue tax allocation bonds, and take on related financial obligations. The bill does not take effect on its own. It requires the Vidalia election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, with the ballot question asking voters to approve or reject the redevelopment powers. If a majority vote yes, the authorization becomes effective immediately. If voters reject it or the election is not properly held, the authorization never takes effect and the whole Act is automatically repealed on the following January 1.

• Authorizes the City of Vidalia to use all powers under Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44, Title 36), including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Requires a city referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025 asking voters to approve or reject the redevelopment powers grant.
• Sets rules for publicizing the election, requiring notice in Toombs County's official legal newspaper 90 days before and weekly for two weeks before the vote.
• Makes the redevelopment authorization effective immediately if a majority of voters approve it, but automatically repeals the entire Act on the following January 1 if voters reject it or the election is not properly held.
• Requires the election superintendent to certify the results to the Georgia Secretary of State and puts the cost of the election on the City of Vidalia.

The City of Vidalia's government and its registered voters, who will decide the referendum; Toombs County's election superintendent, who must run the vote; and, if approved, developers, property owners, and taxpayers in any future tax allocation districts the city creates.

If voters approve the referendum, Vidalia could redirect future property tax growth in designated redevelopment areas toward financing projects like infrastructure or blight removal, a tool many Georgia cities use for downtown or economic development. If voters reject it, the city gains none of these powers and the authorizing law disappears.

• Section 1 grants Vidalia authority to exercise all powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law, including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Section 2 requires a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2025, specifies the exact ballot wording, and sets public notice requirements in the county's official newspaper.
• Section 2 states that if voters reject the measure or the election is not properly conducted, the Act is automatically repealed on the following January 1.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's approval or the date the bill becomes law without approval, except for the referendum-dependent Section 1.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date
2. 2025-05-13Act 215
3. 2025-05-13House 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. 2025-03-20Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-18House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 18, 2025

   171 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 3 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #279

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 28, 2025

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

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #313

• redevelopment powers
• tax allocation districts
• Vidalia referendum
• local government finance
• Toombs County elections