SB625: SB625 City of Decatur Public Facilities Authority; a referendum for issuing revenue bonds for certain projects requested by the City Schools of Decatur; require

The City of Decatur Public Facilities Authority was created by a 2017 state law and has the power to issue revenue bonds, a type of debt repaid from project revenues, to pay for public projects. Under current law, the authority can approve these bonds on its own through a resolution. This bill changes that process for large school related projects. If the City Schools of Decatur asks the authority to issue $20 million or more in revenue bonds for a project, the authority must first ask the City of Decatur to have its election superintendent put the question to a vote of qualified voters in the City Schools of Decatur. The authority cannot approve the bonds unless a majority of those voting in the referendum approve the project. Bonds still cannot have a maturity longer than 40 years.

• Requires a public referendum before the City of Decatur Public Facilities Authority can issue revenue bonds of $20 million or more for a City Schools of Decatur project.
• Directs the authority to ask the City of Decatur to have its election superintendent place the bond question before qualified voters of the school district.
• Bars the authority from approving such bonds by resolution unless a majority of referendum voters approve the project.
• Keeps the existing 40 year maximum maturity limit on revenue bonds issued by the authority.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with these new referendum requirements.

The City of Decatur Public Facilities Authority, the City of Decatur's election superintendent, the City Schools of Decatur, and qualified voters residing within the Decatur school district who would now vote on large bond financed school projects.

Large school construction or renovation projects costing $20 million or more could no longer move forward on the authority's decision alone. Decatur voters would gain a direct say through a ballot referendum before the authority can borrow that much money for school projects.

• Section 1 rewrites Section 6 of the 2017 Act creating the authority, keeping its existing power to issue revenue bonds for project costs and refinancing.
• Section 6(a) retains the 40 year maximum bond maturity and requires bond payments to come solely from pledged revenues and properties.
• Section 6(b) adds the new requirement: for City Schools of Decatur projects costing $20 million or more, the authority must request a referendum through the City of Decatur's election superintendent before issuing bonds.
• Section 6(b) prohibits the authority from adopting a bond resolution for the project unless a majority of referendum voters approve it.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 706
3. 2026-05-12Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-04-02House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-04-02House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2026-03-25House Second Readers (House)

• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)Primary sponsor
• Mary Oliver (D, HD-084)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2026

   44 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #761

2. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2026

   110 yea, 63 nay (1 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #846

• Decatur schools
• local bond referendum
• public facilities authority
• school construction funding
• Georgia local legislation