---
title: SB 347. Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority; method of appointing the membership; change
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb347
cite_as: SB 347, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb347
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb347.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb347/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71481
date: 2025-05-01
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28
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.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 889
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb347.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 347
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-05-01
last_action: Effective Date 2025-07-01
sponsors:
  - Mike Hodges
  - Shawn Still
  - Buddy DeLoach
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB347/2025
upstream_id: 2012183
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - local government appointments
  - development authority
  - Glynn County
  - Brunswick city government
  - economic development board
---

# SB 347. Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority; method of appointing the membership; change

## Text

25 LC 47 3632
Senate Bill 347
By: Senators Hodges of the 3rd and Still of the 48th
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend an Act implementing the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority,1
approved April 2, 1963 (Ga. L. 1963, p. 2826), as amended, particularly by an Act approved2
March 31, 1987 (Ga. L. 1987, p. 5391), which Act was enacted pursuant to an amendment3
to the Constitution set out at Ga. L. 1962, p. 810, so as to change the method of appointing4
the membership; to amend the term of office of such membership; to provide for5
qualification of members; to provide for related matters; to pr ovide an effective date; to6
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
An Act implementing the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority, approved10
April 2, 1963 (Ga. L. 1963, p. 2826), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 31,11
1987 (Ga. L. 1987, p. 5391), which Act was enacted pursuant to an amendment to the12
Constitution set out at Ga. L. 1962, p. 810, is amended by revi sing Sections 1 and 2 as13
follows:14
S. B. 347
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25 LC 47 3632
"SECTION 1.15
(a) The Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority shall consist of a board of16
governors composed of five members.17
(b) Four members of the board of governors, designated as Seat s 1 through 4, shall be18
appointed by joint resolution of the governing authorities of Glynn County and the City of19
Brunswick, as provided for herein. The fifth member, designated as Seat 5, shall be either20
the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Glynn County Board o f Commissioners, as21
designated by said board of commissioners prior to the start of each term for such seat.22
(c) No later than ten days after July 1, 2025, the Brunswick a nd Glynn County23
Development Authority shall designate which current members occupy Seats 1 through 424
and shall submit such designations to the governing authorities of Glynn County and the25
City of Brunswick.26
(d) The members occupying Seats 1 through 4 as of June 30, 2025, shall continue to serve27
as follows:28
(1) The term of the member occupying Seat 1 shall expire on June 30, 2026; 29
(2) The term of the member occupying Seat 2 shall expire on June 30, 2027; 30
(3) The term of the member occupying Seat 3 shall expire on June 30, 2028; and 31
(4) The term of the member occupying Seat 4 shall expire on June 30, 2029. 32
The members holding Seats 1 through 4 as of June 30, 2025, shall be eligible to serve one33
additional successive four-year term, if reappointed.34
(e) Upon the expiration of the terms set forth in subsection (d) of this section, members for35
Seats 1 through 4 shall be appointed pursuant to the following joint appointment process36
to staggered terms of four years, beginning on July 1 and endin g on June 30 four years37
later. For each appointment or successor appointment for Seats 1 through 4, the authority38
shall submit the name of one candidate to the governing authorities of Glynn County and39
the City of Brunswick for joint approval. If the candidate is not acceptable to the40
S. B. 347
- 2 -
25 LC 47 3632
governing authorities of Glynn County and the City of Brunswick , the authority shall41
submit a second candidate. If three consecutive candidates for a particular appointment are42
not found to be acceptable, the governing authorities of Glynn County and the City of43
Brunswick, by resolution, shall appoint an individual to the corresponding seat. Members44
serving in Seats 1 through 4 may serve no more than two successive four-year terms, after45
which the member must wait at least two years before becoming eligible for reappointment.46
If any member occupying Seats 1 through 4 serves less than a fu ll four-year term, that47
partial term shall not count toward the member's term limit, an d such member shall be48
eligible to serve two additional successive four-year terms.49
(f) Seat 5 shall consist of either the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Glynn County50
Board of Commissioners and shall be appointed by the Glynn Coun t y B o a r d o f51
Commissioners, with an initial term beginning August 1, 2025, and ending December 31,52
2025. Thereafter, Seat 5, consisting of either the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the53
Glynn County Board of Commissioners, shall be appointed annuall y by said board for a54
term of one year beginning January 1, with a maximum of four successive one-year terms.55
(g) Any member of the board of governors, including the county -appointed member56
occupying Seat 5, may be removed for cause for willful miscondu ct, legal or ethical57
violations, failure without good cause to comply with the autho rity's attendance policy,58
failure without good cause to partake in the authority's new member orientation within the59
first three months of the beginning of his or her term, or a proven breach of oath that causes60
material harm to the authority. Prior to removal, the member shall receive written notice61
detailing the specific grounds for removal and shall be given a n opportunity to respond. 62
The authority shall conduct a hearing at which the member shall have the opportunity to63
present evidence, respond to the allegations, and be heard by t he board. Removal shall64
require a unanimous vote of the remaining four board members upon a documented finding65
of cause following such hearing. Any member removed pursuant to this subsection shall66
be permanently ineligible for reappointment to the board of governors. The authority shall67
S. B. 347
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25 LC 47 3632
adopt and include in its by-laws clear and reasonable written rules and policies consistent68
with this subsection, including a formal attendance policy, a process for providing notice69
of absences, a process for responding to alleged noncompliance, and a process for removal70
in the event of noncompliance. Such policies shall also establish procedural guidelines for71
any hearing conducted pursuant to this subsection.72
(h) If, at the expiration of the term of any member, a successor has not been appointed, the73
member whose term has expired shall continue to hold office until his or her successor is74
duly appointed and qualified.75
SECTION 2.76
(a) All members of the board of governors shall be taxpayers a nd residents of Glynn77
County, Georgia. Except for the member occupying Seat 5, no member shall be an officer78
or employee of Glynn County or the City of Brunswick.79
(b) The board of governors shall elect one of its members to s erve as chairperson and80
another as vice-chairperson. The board shall also elect a secr etary-treasurer. The81
secretary-treasurer shall not be required to be a member of the board of governors. The82
member occupying Seat 5 may not be elected as an officer of the board of governors.83
(c) If a vacancy occurs on the board of governors due to death, resignation, or for any84
other reason prior to the expiration of a member's term, the vacancy shall be filled in the85
same manner as the original appointment for the corresponding seat. A member appointed86
to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.87
(d) Upon appointment, each member of the authority shall take an oath before a notary88
public, or other officer authorized to administer oaths, that h e or she will truly and89
faithfully perform the duties of a member of the authority."90
SECTION 2.91
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025.92
S. B. 347
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25 LC 47 3632
SECTION 3.93
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.94
S. B. 347
- 5 -

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

Senate Bill 347 rewrites how the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority board is chosen, moving from four appointed members to a five-seat board with a joint approval process and a seat reserved for a county commission leader.

### Plain-language summary

The Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority was created by a 1963 state law and later amended in 1987. This bill rewrites the authority's founding law to change how its board of governors is chosen and how long members serve.
Under the bill, the board has five seats. Four seats (1 through 4) are filled through a joint process: the authority nominates a candidate, and the governing bodies of Glynn County and the City of Brunswick must both approve. If three straight nominees are rejected, the county and city can appoint someone directly. These members serve staggered four-year terms and are limited to two successive terms before a required two-year wait. The fifth seat is reserved for the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Glynn County Board of Commissioners, appointed annually by that board. The bill also adds a formal, for-cause removal process with written notice and a hearing, sets residency and taxpayer requirements for members, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

### What it does

- Restructures the board of governors into five seats, with four filled through joint nomination and approval by Glynn County and the City of Brunswick.
- Reserves the fifth seat for whoever serves as chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Glynn County Board of Commissioners, appointed annually for up to four one-year terms.
- Sets staggered four-year terms for Seats 1 through 4, with transition end dates running from June 30, 2026 through June 30, 2029, and a two-term limit followed by a mandatory two-year wait.
- Creates a formal for-cause removal process requiring written notice, a hearing, and a unanimous vote of the other four board members.
- Requires all board members to be Glynn County taxpayers and residents, bars most members from also being Glynn County or Brunswick employees, and requires a sworn oath upon appointment.
- Sets the law's effective date as July 1, 2025.

### Who it affects

The Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority board members, current and future; the Glynn County Board of Commissioners and the City of Brunswick governing bodies, which now share joint appointment power; and Glynn County residents and taxpayers, since board eligibility is tied to residency and tax status.

### Why it matters

The changes affect who controls local economic development decisions in Brunswick and Glynn County by giving the county and city joint say over four board seats and guaranteeing county commission representation through the fifth seat, while adding term limits and a formal process for removing members.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 revises the authority's founding Sections 1 and 2, setting the board at five members and defining Seats 1 through 4 as jointly appointed and Seat 5 as the county commission chairperson or vice-chairperson.
- Subsection (c) requires the authority to designate current members to Seats 1 through 4 within ten days after July 1, 2025.
- Subsection (d) sets staggered expiration dates for the current Seats 1-4 members, from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2029, with eligibility for one more four-year term.
- Subsection (e) establishes the joint nomination and approval process for future Seats 1-4 appointments, including a fallback direct appointment if three nominees are rejected, and a two consecutive four-year term limit.
- Subsection (f) sets Seat 5's initial term from August 1 to December 31, 2025, then annual one-year terms starting January 1, capped at four successive terms.
- Subsection (g) creates a for-cause removal process requiring written notice, a hearing, and a unanimous vote of the remaining four members, with permanent ineligibility for anyone removed.
- Section 2 requires members to be Glynn County taxpayers and residents, restricts most members from being county or city employees, and requires an oath before a notary or authorized officer.
- Section 2 of the amending Act sets the effective date as July 1, 2025, and Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-05-01)
- Last action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 (2025-05-01)
- Sponsors: Mike Hodges, Shawn Still, Buddy DeLoach
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71481

> The history, votes, and amendments (889 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb347.md?full=1