HB1186: HB1186 Garden City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority; repeal Act

In 2004, the Georgia General Assembly created the Garden City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority as a separate local authority to promote tourism in Garden City, near Savannah. This bill repeals that 2004 law entirely, eliminating the authority as a legal entity. Instead of leaving the authority's property and debts unresolved, the bill spells out what happens to them. All assets automatically pass to Garden City, Georgia, without any extra legal steps, and Garden City's City Council can sign deeds or other paperwork to formally move ownership into the city's name, even using the old authority's name if needed to complete the paperwork. Any debts or obligations the authority owed are likewise transferred to and assumed by Garden City, with the City Council authorized to sign whatever documents are needed to complete that transfer.

• Repeals in its entirety the 2004 state law that created the Garden City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority.
• Automatically transfers all of the authority's assets to Garden City, Georgia, without requiring further legal action.
• Authorizes the Garden City City Council to sign deeds or conveyance documents to move asset titles into the city's name, including signing in the old authority's name if necessary.
• Transfers the authority's outstanding debts and obligations to Garden City, which must assume them.
• Repeals any other state laws that conflict with this Act.

Garden City, Georgia, its city government and City Council, and the Garden City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority itself, which ceases to exist as a separate legal body once this law takes effect.

Local tourism promotion functions and any property, contracts, or debts once held by the separate authority would become the direct responsibility of Garden City's city government, folding a standalone agency's operations and finances into the city itself.

• Section 1 repeals the entire 2004 Act (Ga. L. 2004, p. 3983) that established the Garden City Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Authority.
• Section 2 automatically transfers all authority assets to Garden City and authorizes the City Council to execute deeds or instruments needed to formally transfer titles.
• Section 2 also transfers the authority's obligations to Garden City and lets the City Council sign the paperwork needed to assume those obligations, including in the authority's former name.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 547
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-24Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-17House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)Primary sponsor
• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Anne Westbrook (D, HD-163)
• Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 17, 2026

   163 yea, 1 nay (7 not voting, 4 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #513

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 24, 2026

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

• local government
• tourism authority
• Garden City Georgia
• government reorganization