HB933: HB933 Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority; property held is for public purposes for the benefit of the people of this state; provide

The Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority manages land and facilities at Lake Lanier Islands, and existing Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 12-3-339) already treats the authority's activities as a public purpose exempt from most taxes. This bill rewrites that section to add explicit language declaring that any leaseholds or other interests in the authority's real property, granted to private individuals or companies, are also public property held for public purposes for the benefit of Georgians. Because of that declaration, those leased interests would qualify for the exemption from property taxes (ad valorem taxes) under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-41, the same as the authority's own property. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws. It does not set a specific effective date beyond the general effective date rules for Georgia legislation.

• Adds language declaring that leaseholds and other interests in the authority's property granted to private parties are public property held for a public purpose.
• Extends the existing property tax exemption under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-41 to those leased or granted interests, not just property the authority holds directly.
• Keeps the existing exemptions for the authority's own real and personal property, activities, income, fees, and bonds from state taxes and assessments.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this new language.

The Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority, any businesses or individuals who lease land or facilities from the authority (such as resort, marina, or recreation operators), and local tax assessors who determine whether such leased interests are subject to property tax.

If leased interests at Lake Lanier Islands are formally declared public property for a public purpose, businesses or individuals holding those leases could avoid paying property taxes on them, which could affect local tax revenue and how commercial operations at the lake are structured.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 12-3-339 to restate that all property held or controlled by the authority is public property exempt from ad valorem (property) taxes under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-41.
• Section 1 adds new subsection (c), declaring leaseholds or other interests granted by the authority to any person or entity are also public property held for a public purpose and exempt from property taxes.
• Section 1 retains existing exemptions from state and local sales and use tax on property the authority purchases for its own exclusive use.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

1. 2026-01-14House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-13House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-12House Hopper (House)

• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)Primary sponsor
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)

• property taxes
• Lake Lanier Islands
• tax exemptions
• public authorities