SB 78: "City of Tybee Island Buildings and Public Facilities Authority Act"; enact

This bill sets up a new local authority for the City of Tybee Island, giving it legal power as a public corporation separate from the city and state governments. The authority's job is to acquire, build, equip, and run buildings and facilities the city needs for its government operations, like offices or public works buildings. The authority would be run by five members appointed by the Tybee Island City Council, with no more than two also serving on the council. It can issue revenue bonds (a type of loan repaid from rents and fees rather than taxes) to pay for projects, lease facilities back to the city, and collect rent to cover costs and bond payments. The bill makes clear that these bonds do not create debt for the city or state, exempts the authority's bonds and property from most taxes, and gives the authority the same legal immunity from lawsuits over torts and negligence that the city itself has. If the authority is ever dissolved, its property would go to the City of Tybee Island.

• Creates the City of Tybee Island Building and Public Facilities Authority as a separate public corporation to build and manage city facilities.
• Allows the authority to issue revenue bonds to pay for construction projects, repaid only from rents and fees, not city or state taxes.
• Sets up a five-member board appointed by the Tybee Island City Council, with terms and rules for filling vacancies.
• Exempts the authority's bonds, income, and most property from state taxation, though not from sales and use tax.
• Gives the authority the same legal immunity from tort and negligence lawsuits that the City of Tybee Island has.
• Requires that if the authority is ever dissolved, its remaining property goes to the City of Tybee Island.

The City of Tybee Island government and its officials, the five appointed members of the new authority, potential bondholders who buy the authority's revenue bonds, and Chatham County's Superior Court, which would handle any lawsuits or bond validation cases involving the authority.

Tybee Island would gain a separate financing tool to build or renovate government buildings without directly borrowing against city tax revenue or increasing city debt. Bond repayment would instead come from rents and fees the authority collects, shifting how such projects get funded and who oversees them.

• Section 2 establishes the authority as a distinct public corporation, not a state agency, based in Tybee Island.
• Section 3 sets up a five-member board appointed by the city council, with staggered three-year terms and a quorum of two members.
• Section 5 grants the authority broad powers, including issuing revenue bonds, buying and leasing property, and contracting with public or private parties.
• Section 6 specifies that revenue bonds do not create debt or pledge tax money from the city or state.
• Section 9 sets Chatham County Superior Court as the exclusive venue for lawsuits and bond validation actions involving the authority.
• Section 14 exempts the authority's property and income from most taxes, excluding sales and use tax.
• Section 15 gives the authority and its employees the same tort liability immunity as the City of Tybee Island.
• Section 20 directs that authority property go to the City of Tybee Island if the authority is dissolved.

1. 2025-05-01Effective Date
2. 2025-05-01Act 53
3. 2025-05-01Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2025-04-07Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2025-03-04House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2025-03-04House Third Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-04House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-02-13House Second Readers (House)

• Ben Watson (R, SD-1)Primary sponsor
• Derek Mallow (D, SD-2)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   49 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 2 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #33

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2025

   172 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 2 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #148

• local government authorities
• Tybee Island
• municipal bonds
• public facilities financing