SB 281: "Port Wentworth Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority Act"; enact

Port Wentworth currently has no dedicated authority to promote tourism and conventions. This bill creates one: the Port Wentworth Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority, made up of five members appointed by the city council for one-year terms, at least one of whom must work in the hotel or lodging industry. The authority would elect its own officers, hire an executive director and staff, and hold open meetings following Robert's Rules of Order, with three members needed for a quorum. The authority's job would be to promote tourism, trade, and conventions, study ways to bring visitors to the city, and advise the city council on tourism development. It can own property, borrow money, apply for grants, and accept donations, but it cannot bind the city to any contract or debt. The city council may choose to fund it using hotel-motel tax revenue and can inspect its books at any time. The bill repeals conflicting laws upon passage.

• Creates a five-member Port Wentworth Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority appointed by the city council for one-year terms, removable by a two-thirds council vote.
• Requires at least one member to be an owner or manager of a hotel, motel, inn, or bed and breakfast in the city.
• Gives the authority power to hire an executive director and staff, set salaries, own property, borrow money, and apply for grants.
• Allows the City of Port Wentworth to fund the authority using hotel-motel tax revenue, subject to state rules on how that tax money can be spent.
• Bars the authority from binding the city to any contract, debt, or financial obligation, so the city is not liable for the authority's actions.
• Requires the authority to submit an annual budget and allow city council inspections of its records and properties.

City of Port Wentworth residents, the city council, hotel and lodging business owners and employees who may serve on or work with the authority, and local businesses connected to tourism, trade shows, and conventions in the city.

Port Wentworth would gain a dedicated body focused on attracting tourists and conventions, funded potentially through existing hotel-motel taxes rather than new taxes. The city keeps oversight through budget approval and inspection rights while remaining legally shielded from the authority's debts and contracts.

• Section 2 sets authority membership at five people, requires city residency or business ties, and mandates at least one hotel or lodging industry member.
• Section 5 requires open meetings, written minutes shared with the mayor and council within ten days, and a three-member quorum.
• Section 6 defines the authority's core duties as promoting tourism, trade, and conventions and advising the city council on tourism development.
• Section 7 grants broad powers including suing and being sued, owning property, borrowing money, and applying for federal, state, or private funding.
• Section 10 allows the city council to fund the authority through hotel-motel tax revenue under Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A.
• Section 12 prohibits the authority from binding the city to contracts, debts, or financial obligations.

1. 2025-03-13House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-11House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-10Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
4. 2025-03-10Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
5. 2025-02-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
6. 2025-02-26Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)Primary sponsor

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 10, 2025

   43 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 9 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #221

• tourism promotion
• local government authorities
• hotel-motel tax
• Port Wentworth
• convention and visitors bureau