HR 1051: Property; granting of non-exclusive easements of certain state owned property; authorize

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Discussed in meetings (14)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. House State Properties Committee, February 5, 2026

   From 0:18:44 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The State Properties Commission's deputy executive director presented 22 proposed easements allowing utilities, road work and other access across state property. The presenter described electrical, gas and communications work serving technical colleges, parks, a prison, the Atlanta Farmers Market, a driver services center, an agricultural laboratory and the Rivian project site. Other requests covered slope maintenance, stormwater infrastructure and access to wildlife property. The presenter said road-related easements included $23,700 for work over the Western and Atlantic Railroad in Bartow County, $4,000 for a Kingsland project and $83,700 for widening and reconstruction near Chattahoochee Technical College in Paulding County. The presenter also described a 116-acre easement over railroad property in Tennessee for road and safety projects at $10. Many utility easements were listed at $10, while several required at least $650 or fair market value. No substantive questions or public testimony followed. The chair said proceeds would go to the state treasury. The committee approved a do-pass motion by voice vote, with no opposing votes voiced. The chair said both measures would go to Rules and anticipated additional Senate provisions in a later substitute.

2. House Rules Committee, February 9, 2026

   From 0:42:15 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 502

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter described HR 1051 as the annual state-property easement resolution and said it covered 22 easements. The presenter expected the Senate to add more transactions. No questions were asked. Later, the committee placed the resolution on the February 10 floor calendar after a motion and second, with no opposition voiced.

3. House floor session, February 10, 2026 (legislative day 16)

   From 1:30:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 506

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The clerk described the resolution as authorizing nonexclusive easements across state property for facilities, utilities, roads and access. The sponsor said it contained 22 easements and would authorize the State Properties Commission to grant them. The sponsor explained that work on district property needs continues throughout the year and said the Senate was expected to add more easements and property transfers, requiring further consideration. No questions were asked. The House adopted the resolution 166-0.

4. Senate State Institutions and Property Committee, February 25, 2026

   From 0:10:40 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: State property staff presented HR 1051 as the annual easement resolution, describing 22 easements and three additions. Staff outlined utility, road, drainage and access projects at colleges, prisons, parks and other state properties. Asked why some easements cost $10 while others carried larger charges, staff said nominal fees generally applied when the state benefited; otherwise, fair-market-value charges applied. Staff said appraisals determined value, with a $650 minimum for transactions described that way. One member questioned a proposed $10 easement covering 2.5 acres at Altama Plantation Wildlife Management Area for HIC Altama LLC. Another state property representative said it arose from a settlement over the company's claim that grading at the wildlife area caused flooding on adjoining property. Members requested more information about the settlement and the easement's value. Members also requested details about a two-acre access easement for Timberlands 2 LLC in Talbot County, priced at $650. Staff described additions for stormwater work at Wormsloe, driveway access involving Atlantic Waste Services at Long State Prison, and an electrical line at a youth detention center. Rather than remove the questioned easements, members agreed to await further information and revisit both resolutions together. No vote on this resolution occurred.

5. Senate State Institutions and Property Committee, March 16, 2026

   From 0:10:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The State Property Commission’s deputy executive director supplied two Department of Natural Resources letters addressing earlier questions about easements. For Altama Wildlife Management Area, the representative said a drainage easement would resolve claims that department alterations obstructed water flow from neighboring property. The representative said the settlement included replacement culverts at the property owner’s expense, stormwater improvements, flashboard risers and four contributions of $50,000, $75,000, $50,000 and $150,000. For Eupatoria Ravines Wildlife Management Area, the representative said the department had purchased about 8,800 acres from Timberlands 2 LLC to protect rare habitats and expand outdoor recreation. According to the representative, an access easement intended for retained, landlocked property had inadvertently been omitted from a survey; the proposal would correct that omission. The chair identified the retained parcel as 310 acres, which the representative confirmed. Asked about opposition letters, the representative said none had been received. Another member asked about Clayton County property, and the representative identified a 1.6-acre Georgia Power easement at the Atlanta Farmers Market. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

6. Senate Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

   From 0:12:58 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter described this as an annual state property easement measure and said it returned as a committee substitute with additions. The chair said it would move together with HR 1050. Both were included in the floor calendar approved unanimously.

7. Senate floor session, March 20, 2026 (legislative day 35)

   From 1:46:15 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter described HR 1051 as a companion to the preceding state-property resolution, authorizing easements across state-owned property. The clerk read a substitute adding Chatham, Long and Muscogee counties to the listed locations. The presenter said committee changes had been resolved satisfactorily and the committee had approved the measure unanimously. Several senators used questions and remarks to thank the retiring committee chair for public and military service, mentorship and friendship. No substantive objections to the easements were raised. The Senate adopted the substitute and the resolution, with a final vote of 46-0.

8. House floor session, March 25, 2026 (legislative day 37, PM)

   From 0:35:47 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said the Senate substitute added easements in Chatham, Long and Muscogee counties that had not been ready when the House first acted. The presenter identified the Wormsloe historic site, Atlantic Waste Services and Flint Electric Membership Corporation as the respective locations or recipients. There were no questions. The House agreed to the Senate substitute, 163-0.

• Read aloud: House floor session, January 28, 2026 (legislative day 8), 0:41:39
• Read aloud: House floor session, January 29, 2026 (legislative day 9), 0:59:26
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 6, 2026 (legislative day 14), 0:56:19
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 11, 2026 (legislative day 17), 0:26:27
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 0:34:37
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 19, 2026 (legislative day 34), 0:49:10

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