HR 946: State of Georgia; economic leadership and recognizing the importance of transparent, informed decision making; commend

This House resolution praises Georgia for being ranked the top state to do business for 11 straight years and credits that success to careful management of water, energy, and infrastructure. It does not create any new law or program. Instead, it states the General Assembly's view that continued growth requires planning for rising energy and water demand without burdening current residents or straining local services. The resolution specifically points to the rising number of high-tech data centers being proposed around the state, noting they often require large amounts of water and electricity. It says timely, accurate information about the economic, fiscal, land use, and utility impacts of such projects should be shared with elected officials and the public so decisions can be well informed. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the public and press.

• Formally commends the State of Georgia for being ranked the top state for business for 11 consecutive years.
• States the General Assembly's recognition that economic growth must be balanced with responsible stewardship of water, energy, and infrastructure resources.
• Highlights concerns about data centers' high water and electricity use and their cumulative effects on local communities.
• Calls for timely release of accurate information on the economic, fiscal, land use, and utility impacts of large development projects.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
• Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or enforcement mechanisms since it is a commendatory resolution, not a law.

The resolution speaks broadly to Georgia residents, local governments, utility providers, and developers of high-demand facilities such as data centers. It also addresses members of the General Assembly directly, urging them to use their access to information to benefit constituents.

While the resolution changes no laws, it signals legislative attention to the strain that data centers and similar projects place on local water and electricity systems, and it encourages more transparency in how information about such projects reaches the public and elected officials before key decisions are made.

• The whereas clauses recount Georgia's 11-year streak as the top-ranked state for business and attribute it to careful resource management.
• The resolution identifies rising data center development, with its heavy water and electricity use, as a case study in the need for transparent information sharing.
• The operative resolving clause commends the state for its economic leadership and recognizes the need to balance growth with resource stewardship.
• A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press, but creates no binding legal obligations.

1. 2025-04-02House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-04-02House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-04-02House Hopper (House)

• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)Primary sponsor
• Mary Margaret Oliver (D, HD-84)

• economic development
• data centers
• water resources
• energy policy
• government transparency