--- title: HR 1533. Georgia Environmental Finance Authority; occasion of its 40th anniversary; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1533 cite_as: HR 1533, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1533 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1533.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1533/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73803 date: 2026-03-03 status: passed 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/hr1532.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1534.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1533.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1533 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-03 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Lynn Smith - Vance Smith - John Corbett - David Huddleston - Debbie Buckner text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1533/2025 upstream_id: 2128650 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Georgia Environmental Finance Authority - water infrastructure - energy efficiency - legislative honors --- # HR 1533. Georgia Environmental Finance Authority; occasion of its 40th anniversary; recognize ## Text House Resolution 1533 By: Representatives Smith of the 70th, Smith of the 138th, Corbett of the 174th, Huddleston of the 72nd, and Buckner of the 137th A RESOLUTION Commending and congratulating the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority on the occasion of its 40th anniversary; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) was established in 1986 to provide innovative financing solutions for environmental infrastructure projects across the state; and WHEREAS, for 40 years, GEFA has played a vital role in improving Georgia's energy, land, and water resources while supporting economic growth, public health, and community development; and WHEREAS, GEFA has administered critical state and federal financing programs, including water and wastewater infrastructure loans, energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives, and land conservation efforts that benefit communities in every region of Georgia; and WHEREAS, through its stewardship of the Georgia Fund, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and other financing mechanisms, GEFA has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects that improve water quality, protect public health, and enhance quality of life for Georgians; and WHEREAS, the WaterFirst Program has recognized local governments demonstrating exemplary water resource management practices that protect Georgia's water resources; and WHEREAS, through its management of the State Energy Program, Weatherization Assistance Program, and Energy performance contracting, GEFA has supported energy efficiency, renewable energy, and resiliency projects that reduce energy use and stimulate sustainable economic development; and WHEREAS, GEFA's Fuel Storage Tank Program has provided a cleaner and healthier environment for all Georgians through the management and monitoring of fuel storage tanks at state facilities; and WHEREAS, in its role as the lead agency for Emergency Support Function 12 Annex, GEFA has promoted energy security planning and coordinated emergency response related to energy and fuel during state-wide emergencies; and WHEREAS, GEFA's commitment to serving rural and underserved communities has strengthened local governments' ability to attract economic development and plan for long-term sustainability; and WHEREAS, the success of GEFA reflects the dedication and professionalism of its board members, executive leadership, and staff, past and present, whose work has advanced Georgia's environmental and economic priorities; and WHEREAS, the 40th anniversary of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority provides an appropriate opportunity to recognize its enduring contributions to the State of Georgia and its citizens. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend and congratulate the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority on its 40th anniversary and express sincere appreciation for its four decades of service to the people of Georgia. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution honors the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) on its 40th anniversary, recognizing its role financing water, energy, and land conservation projects across the state. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives marking 40 years since the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) was created in 1986. It does not change any law or create new programs. Instead, it walks through GEFA's history, listing programs it has run such as water and wastewater infrastructure loans, the Georgia Fund, the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, the WaterFirst Program, the State Energy Program, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and the Fuel Storage Tank Program. The resolution formally commends and congratulates GEFA for its work supporting Georgia's water quality, energy efficiency, emergency response planning, and economic development in rural and underserved communities. It directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to GEFA as a keepsake of the honor. ### What it does - Formally commends and congratulates the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) on its 40th anniversary as a state agency. - Recites GEFA's history and programs, including infrastructure loan funds, energy efficiency initiatives, and land conservation efforts, without altering any of them. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to GEFA. - Creates no new funding, legal requirement, or regulatory change; it is a symbolic statement of appreciation. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, its board members, executive leadership, and staff, past and present. It has no binding effect on other Georgians, though it references communities and local governments that have used GEFA's water, energy, and land conservation financing programs. ### Why it matters Because this is a commemorative resolution rather than a law, it does not change funding, requirements, or programs. Its practical effect is limited to a formal public acknowledgment of GEFA's 40 years of work, delivered as an official document to the agency. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses summarize GEFA's creation in 1986 and its role administering water, energy, and land conservation financing programs. - The resolved clause has the House commend and congratulate GEFA on its 40th anniversary and express appreciation for its service. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to GEFA. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-03) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-03) - Sponsors: Lynn Smith, Vance Smith, John Corbett, David Huddleston, Debbie Buckner - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73803 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1533.md?full=1