SB435: SB435 Georgia Development Authority; rename as the Georgia Agricultural Development Authority

The Georgia Development Authority is a state entity referenced across multiple sections of Georgia law dealing with agricultural loans, employee retirement, and financial regulation. This bill does not change what the authority does or how it operates. It simply replaces the name "Georgia Development Authority" with "Georgia Agricultural Development Authority" everywhere that name currently appears in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Section 1 lists thirteen specific Code sections where the name swap applies, covering topics such as the Emerging Crops Fund Act, mortgage lender exemptions, retirement system membership for authority employees, and the authority's founding purpose and powers. Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws. The bill makes no changes to the authority's powers, funding, or duties.

• Replaces every instance of "Georgia Development Authority" with "Georgia Agricultural Development Authority" in 13 listed sections of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
• Updates naming references in laws governing the Emerging Crops Fund Act, agricultural loans, and loan repayment rules.
• Updates naming references in laws covering the authority's employees, their retirement system membership, and creditable service.
• Updates naming references in the authority's founding statute covering its creation, purpose, and powers and duties.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the renaming.

The Georgia Development Authority itself and its employees, who fall under a specific retirement system reference; agricultural borrowers who use its loan programs; and any licensed mortgage lenders or other entities referenced in the exemption statute tied to the authority's name.

Georgians dealing with the authority's agricultural loan programs, its employees, or related state financial statutes will see the entity referred to by a new name in official records and law, though the underlying programs, powers, and services remain unchanged.

• Section 1 replaces "Georgia Development Authority" with "Georgia Agricultural Development Authority" wherever it appears in 13 named Code sections, including O.C.G.A. §§ 2-8A-3 through 2-8A-7, 7-1-1001, 45-18-7.1, 47-2-318, 50-10-1 through 50-10-5, 50-17-21, and 50-23-2.
• Section 1 covers statutes on the Emerging Crops Fund, mortgage lender exemptions, authority employee retirement, and the authority's creation, purpose, and powers.
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the renaming.

1. 2026-05-06Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-06Act 432
3. 2026-05-06Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-16House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-03-16House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-03-12House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2026-02-12House Second Readers (House)

• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)Primary sponsor
• Sam Watson (R, SD-011)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Freddie Sims (D, SD-012)
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Nikki Merritt (D, SD-009)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Tonya Anderson (D, SD-043)
• Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Ed Harbison (D, SD-015)
• Sheikh Rahman (D, SD-005)
• Nabilah Islam Parkes (D, SD-007)
• Steven Meeks (R, HD-178)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 10, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #534

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 16, 2026

   154 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 15 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #705

• agricultural finance
• state agencies
• Georgia Development Authority
• government renaming