HB979: HB979 State government; procedures for retrocession of jurisdiction in certain circumstances; provide

Georgia law already lets the Governor accept jurisdiction back from the federal government over land the United States owns within the state, such as military bases. This bill rewrites that process (O.C.G.A. § 50-2-27) to require any federal request for retrocession to include specific information: who is asking and their authority, what jurisdiction is being requested, a metes-and-bounds description of the land, and whether future land expansions are covered. The Governor's acceptance and supporting documents must then be filed with the local recording office. The bill also lets state agencies, local governments, or school districts enter agreements with federal agencies over jurisdiction, but only for handling alleged offenses by people under 17 on military installations. Separately, the bill adds a new law (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-79) requiring that settlement agreements resolving harassment, discrimination, or retaliation claims against the General Assembly, its chambers, or their members and staff be publicly disclosed, with the person who made the claim not named. This applies retroactively but otherwise keeps the General Assembly exempt from Georgia's open records and open meetings laws. The law would take effect once the Governor signs it or it becomes law without a signature.

• Requires written federal requests to retrocede jurisdiction over land to Georgia to state the requester's identity and authority, the subject matter, and a metes-and-bounds land description.
• Requires the Governor's acceptance of a retrocession request to specify which parts are accepted and to file supporting documents with the local recording office.
• Allows state agencies, local governments, or districts to make reciprocal agreements with federal agencies over jurisdiction duties, but only for alleged acts by people under 17 on military installations.
• Creates a new requirement that settlement agreements resolving harassment, discrimination, or retaliation claims against the General Assembly be publicly disclosed with the claimant's identity redacted.
• Applies that disclosure requirement retroactively to past settlement agreements.
• Keeps the General Assembly otherwise exempt from Georgia's Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 through 50-18-78) and Chapter 14 of Title 50, except for the new disclosure rule.

Federal agencies seeking to hand jurisdiction over military or other federal land back to Georgia, the Governor's office, state agencies and local governments near military installations, and members, officers, and employees of the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate who are subject to harassment, discrimination, or retaliation claims.

Georgians living near military bases could see clearer, more documented jurisdiction agreements between the state and federal government, especially involving juveniles. Meanwhile, settlement agreements resolving harassment or discrimination complaints against state lawmakers and legislative staff would become public record, though the person who filed the complaint would remain anonymous.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 50-2-27 to require federal retrocession requests to name the requester, state their authority, describe the land by metes and bounds, and note any future land expansions.
• Section 1 requires the Governor's written acceptance to specify accepted elements and file the request, acceptance, and land description with the appropriate recording office.
• Section 1 adds subsection (e) permitting reciprocal agreements between state or local governments and federal agencies over concurrent jurisdiction, limited to alleged acts by minors under 17 on military installations.
• Section 2 creates new O.C.G.A. § 50-18-79 requiring public disclosure, with the claimant's identity redacted, of settlement agreements resolving unlawful employment practice claims against the General Assembly.
• Section 2 makes the disclosure requirement retroactive and otherwise preserves the General Assembly's exemption from the state's open records and open meetings laws.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without a signature.

1. 2026-03-27House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended (House)
2. 2026-03-23Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
3. 2026-03-23Senate Third Read (Senate)
4. 2026-03-19Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
5. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
6. 2026-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
7. 2026-03-04House Passed/Adopted (House)
8. 2026-03-04House Third Readers (House)

• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)Primary sponsor
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
• Scott Holcomb (D, HD-101)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   161 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 13 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #632

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 23, 2026

   50 yea, 1 nay (0 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #793

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2026

   149 yea, 6 nay (7 not voting, 14 absent)

   Agree To Senate Sub As Am: House Vote #777

• state government transparency
• military land jurisdiction
• sexual harassment settlements
• open records law
• legislative accountability