HB1488: HB1488 Hinesville Conference Center and Tourism Authority Act; enact

This bill sets up a new local authority, the Hinesville Conference Center and Tourism Authority, to oversee the construction and operation of a conference center in the City of Hinesville. The center is meant to host civic, cultural, and educational events, fairs, conventions, and trade shows, and to help promote tourism and the local economy. The authority would have seven directors appointed by Hinesville's city government, serving four-year terms. Members elect their own chairperson and vice chairperson, choose a secretary, and must meet at least monthly. The bill spells out the authority's powers, including hiring contractors and an executive director, entering agreements with governments, and applying for grants and loans, but it specifically denies the authority the power of eminent domain. Funds collected by the authority must be used only for the conference center and tourism promotion, and its finances must be audited every year, with the audit made public.

• Creates the Hinesville Conference Center and Tourism Authority as a seven-member board appointed by the City of Hinesville's governing authority, serving four-year terms.
• Gives the authority power to build, operate, and manage a conference center for civic, cultural, educational, and trade events in the Hinesville area.
• Allows the authority to hire an executive director, staff, contractors, and professionals, and to apply for grants, loans, or other financial assistance.
• Explicitly denies the authority the power of eminent domain (the ability to take private property for public use).
• Requires the authority's funds to be spent only on the conference center and tourism promotion, and requires an annual public audit of its finances.

The City of Hinesville's government, which appoints the authority's directors; residents and local businesses affected by tourism and economic development efforts; contractors, architects, and staff who may be hired by the authority; and visitors attending events at the future conference center.

If enacted, Hinesville would gain a dedicated public body with legal authority and funding tools to build and run a conference center, potentially drawing conventions, trade shows, and tourists to the area, while local oversight comes through required annual public audits and City-appointed board members.

• Section 1 names the law the 'Hinesville Conference Center and Tourism Authority Act.'
• Section 2 states the authority's purpose: overseeing a conference center for civic, cultural, educational, and tourism-related activities in Hinesville.
• Section 4 sets the authority's membership at seven directors appointed by the City of Hinesville, serving four-year terms.
• Section 5 requires the authority to elect a chairperson and vice chairperson, appoint a secretary, meet monthly, and operate with a four-member quorum.
• Section 7 provides for filling vacancies, including removal for missing three consecutive meetings without excuse.
• Section 8 lists the authority's powers, including hiring staff and an executive director, contracting with governments, and seeking grants, but bars the use of eminent domain.
• Section 9 restricts use of authority funds to conference center and tourism purposes and requires an annual public audit.
• Section 10 is a severability clause stating the rest of the Act stays in effect if any part is struck down as invalid.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 567
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-19Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Al Williams (D, HD-168)Primary sponsor
• Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 18, 2026

   161 yea, 2 nay (7 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #712

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #799

• local government authorities
• tourism promotion
• Hinesville
• conference centers
• economic development