SR 283: Joint Study Committee on Height Restrictions Surrounding Georgia Airports; create

Georgia is one of only three states without rules limiting how tall structures can be built near its airports. This resolution creates the Senate Height Restrictions Surrounding Georgia Airports Study Committee to look into the issue. The committee will study height restriction policies in other states, weigh the economic and operational costs to airports from unregulated nearby development, consider legal issues around property rights, and gather input from airport operators, aviation experts, economic development officials, and landowners. The committee is made up of four senators (including the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee), the state transportation commissioner or a designee, and the presidents of the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia or their designees. It can meet as needed, and members receive standard state travel and daily allowances. The committee must file any report and legislative recommendations before it is abolished on December 1, 2025.

• Creates the Senate Height Restrictions Surrounding Georgia Airports Study Committee to research airport height restriction policy.
• Directs the committee to compare height restriction laws in other states and evaluate best practices for Georgia.
• Requires the committee to assess the financial and operational impact on airports from unregulated nearby construction.
• Requires the committee to consider legal and property rights issues before recommending any height restriction rules.
• Sets the committee's membership, meeting rules, expense allowances, and a December 1, 2025 abolishment date.

State senators and the transportation commissioner who will serve on the committee, airport operators and the aviation industry, private landowners near airports, county and municipal governments through their association representatives, and rural airports that may face costly runway changes.

If Georgia eventually adopts height restrictions near airports, property owners near runways could face new building limits, while airports could avoid costly runway relocations or closures. This resolution itself only creates a study group; it does not impose any restrictions yet.

• Paragraph (1) creates the Senate Height Restrictions Surrounding Georgia Airports Study Committee.
• Paragraph (2) sets membership: four senators appointed by the Senate President (including the Transportation Committee chair), the transportation commissioner or designee, and representatives from the Georgia Municipal Association and county commissioners association.
• Paragraph (3) directs the committee to study the issues raised and recommend legislation or other action it deems necessary.
• Paragraph (5) sets expense allowances under O.C.G.A. §§ 28-1-8 and 45-7-21 for legislative and non-legislative members, capped at five days unless extended.
• Paragraph (6) requires any approved findings or legislative recommendations to be filed as a report with the Secretary of the Senate before abolishment.
• Paragraph (7) abolishes the committee on December 1, 2025.

1. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
2. 2025-03-20Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2025-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
4. 2025-02-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-02-26Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Brandon Beach (R, SD-21)Primary sponsor
• Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-30)
• Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-48)

1. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 1 excused)

   CONSENT CALENDAR FOR SENATE STUDY COMMITTEES: Senate Vote #380

• airport safety
• aviation policy
• land use regulation
• study committees
• property rights