HB 840: Pickens County Airport Authority; repeal Act

Pickens County created a special local body, the Pickens County Airport Authority, through a 2006 state law. This bill repeals that 2006 law entirely, which eliminates the authority as a separate governing body. With the authority gone, the bill directs that all of its assets pass automatically to Pickens County without any extra paperwork required. The county's Board of Commissioners is given authority to sign deeds or other documents needed to formally move ownership into the county's name, and it may do so even under the authority's old name if needed. The authority's debts and other obligations are likewise transferred to and taken on by Pickens County, with the Board of Commissioners similarly empowered to execute whatever documents are needed to complete that transfer. The bill also repeals any other laws that conflict with it.

• Repeals the 2006 state law (Ga. L. 2006, p. 3645) that created the Pickens County Airport Authority, eliminating it as a separate legal body.
• Automatically transfers all assets of the former airport authority to Pickens County without requiring further legal action.
• Transfers all debts and obligations of the former airport authority to Pickens County, which must assume them.
• Authorizes the Pickens County Board of Commissioners to sign deeds or other documents to move titles and obligations into the county's name, including in the authority's former name if needed.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this Act.

Pickens County government and its Board of Commissioners, which take over the airport authority's property and debts, and any parties who held contracts, debts, or property interests with the former Pickens County Airport Authority.

Once enacted, Pickens County itself, rather than a separate airport authority board, will own the airport's property and be responsible for its debts. This changes who residents and business partners deal with regarding the county airport's operations, finances, and legal obligations.

• Section 1 repeals in its entirety the 2006 Act that created the Pickens County Airport Authority.
• Section 2 states that all assets of the authority devolve automatically to Pickens County and authorizes the Board of Commissioners to execute deeds or conveyance documents to formalize the transfer.
• Section 2 also transfers the authority's obligations to Pickens County and authorizes the Board of Commissioners to sign instruments needed to assume those obligations.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date
2. 2025-05-13Act 240
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-08House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-31House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-11)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2025

   165 yea, 0 nay (10 not voting, 5 excused)

   Local Calendar Without HBs 851 & 852: House Vote #342

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   55 yea, 1 nay

   SUPPLEMENTAL LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #400

• Pickens County government
• airport authority
• local government reorganization
• county assets and debts