Senate State Institutions and Property Committee, February 25, 2026 Video: https://vimeo.com/1163434794 (a timestamp t plays at https://vimeo.com/1163434794#t=s) Page: https://georgiacommons.org/meetings/2026-02-25/senate-state-institutions-and-property This is a machine transcript of the General Assembly's video, made by a speech-recognition model. It is not an official record and can mishear words, names, and numbers. Speakers are not identified. The video is the record: every timestamp links to the moment it plays. [0:08:16] Usually what I do is sort of give the new members of this committee an idea of what we do or the extent of all the leasing and property w- acquisitions we do and that kind of thing. But if- to start it off, however, in this instance, I'm going to yield to the Appropriations Chair right here. A- a- [0:08:33] Sure. [0:08:33] Yes, um, I'm sure. Right. [0:08:36] Well. [0:08:38] Yes, you're number eight. [0:08:39] No. Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, members. Uh, I, I know that we present these bills every year, the leasing bills and the conveyance bills. Uh, we had a specific question regarding rental rate increases as it relates to state buildings. Um, understand that those negot- those contracts are negotiated by State Properties, correct? [0:09:02] Yes. [0:09:02] One thing we would like to see, if you don't mind, well, even if you do mind, but politely, if you m- don't mind, um, we would like to know the leases and their incremental increases, the... If there's automatic escalators. One reason being, and specifically as it relates to DFCS buildings. We just put $89 million in the budget. Uh, I guess we, 81 was the final, I think, good number. At the end, we found a little bit of savings. [0:09:33] And understanding how much of that's being driven by automatic rent increases is of, uh, of interest to us. I think we've, we've asked before. We probably didn't ask you, and we should have asked y'all. Um, but that's the, uh... We, we need to get that number before we're able to move forward with these leases if that... I hope you understand. [0:09:52] Yes, sir. [0:09:54] So how long do you think it would take to get that information? [0:09:56] Yeah. We'll need you a timeline. [0:09:58] We can... I, I would say within a week. [0:10:01] Okay. [0:10:02] Okay. [0:10:03] Well, Mr. Chairman, if you don't mind, I'd, I'd move then that we table House Resolution 1050 until such a time as we can understand what the automatic inc- escalators- [0:10:12] Just 1050? [0:10:13] Yes, sir. [0:10:14] All right. Uh, it's been moved and property se- properly seconded that we- [0:10:18] Second [0:10:18] ... table 1050. Uh, comments? Uh- [0:10:23] I'll se- I'll second. [0:10:24] Second the motion. All in favor say aye. [0:10:27] Aye. [0:10:27] Opposed, like sign. So we can, uh, take up the other, right, 51. All right. Uh, Dean Green, if you would go ahead and sort of give us a presentation on 1051. [0:10:42] Cool. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and committee members. This is, uh, 1051. This is our annual easements. [0:10:50] Right. [0:10:51] And if you don't mind, uh, Mr. Chairman, I'm gonna ask, uh, our new man on the block- [0:10:58] I'll get you seated [0:10:59] ... uh, Terry, to, uh- [0:11:01] I'll get you [0:11:02] ... uh, talk about each one of them. And if there are questions, uh, Mr. Chairman, we'll take those. [0:11:08] Yeah. Yeah, Chairman and committee members, my name is Marty Smith. I'm the State Property Officer. Privileged to be here, to be able to get to present today. Uh, as State Property Officer, we do have three divisions. We got the Georgia Building Authority, State Properties Commission, and the Georgia State Finance and Investment Commission, the construction side. Uh, each division does have a deputy director. And Frank Smith, that y'all worked with for many years, has taken another position with the state as well. And, uh, we brought in another heavy hitter. And, uh, he's not a Smith like I am- ... [0:11:38] or Frank was, but, uh, he's close to it. But a good West Georgia guy, uh, Terry, Terry Jones. And, uh, he's gonna be taking Frank's spot there, and he's gonna give us an update on, uh, on, uh, H- uh, 1051 here. So if you got any questions, please don't hesitate. [0:11:54] By all means, proceed. [0:11:56] Thank you, Mr. Smith. [0:11:57] Thank you. [0:11:57] Chairman. Uh, it's a pleasure to be here with you today. Uh, I'll, uh... What I'll do, we've got, uh, 22 easements along with three substitutes, uh, to present today. Uh, before I start going through these, I would like to, to just share with the committee that, uh, we have, uh, shared all of the, the easements with everyone on the House side as well as the Senate side. Um, as of today, we haven't gotten any questions or concerns related to these. [0:12:27] Okay. [0:12:27] Um, I will start at the beginning and go through all of them. [0:12:30] Please do. Proceed. [0:12:32] And if you have any questions, feel free to stop me. We'll start with, uh, Baldwin, Baldwin County. We have a, a request to grant an easement to Southern Natural Gas Company for three acres, uh, at the Central State Hospital for construction of an underground natural gas distribution line for the fair market value no less than $650. In Bartow County, we have a request to grant an easement to the Georgia Department of Transportation for .6 of an acre over the Western & Atlantic Railroad for a road improvement project at a cost of $23,700. [0:13:14] In Bullock County, uh, grant an easement to Excelsior Electric Membership Co-op at the Ogeechee Technical College for the construction of an underground dis- electrical distribution line to serve the ISIR, uh, Training Center at a cost of $10. In Camden County, uh, request to grant an easement to the City of Kingsland, uh, for .15 of an acre at Coastal Pines Technical College for a road improvement project at a cost of $4,000. [0:13:49] Catoosa County, uh, request to grant an easement to the Marathon Realty Co- Co-op for .46 of an acre at the Georgia Northwestern Technical College for the construction of a slope at the fair market value not no less than $650. [0:14:10] Chattooga County grant an easement to the City of Summerville, uh, for one acre at the Hayes, uh, State Prison for the construction of an underground natural gas line to serve the MOTCOR addition for a cost of $10. Uh, Clayton County granted easement to the Georgia Power Company for 1.6 acres at the Atlanta Farmers Market for the utility upgrade and repair project at the farmers market for $10. [0:14:41] Colquitt County, um, granted easement to the City of Moultrie for 4.6 acres at the Southern Regional Technical College for construction of underground electrical and gas distribution lines. [0:14:54] Excuse me. [0:14:55] Yes. [0:14:55] Can we go back one moment? [0:14:56] Mm-hmm. [0:14:56] Can we go back and visit the acquisition easement we did for 23,000? Where did I see that? And that was a state institution, and we charged them a fair market value. In the other instances, we charged nominal fees, like $10, just to make sure, keep it legal. You see what I'm saying? Where the railroad... Wait, let me go back and find it. Um- [0:15:18] Yes, sir. It's, uh- [0:15:19] In Bartow County [0:15:20] ... over by- [0:15:20] 23- [0:15:20] ... Western & Atlantic Railroad. Um, typically, my understanding, we, we will charge, uh, fair market value unless there is some benefit to the state. If there's not no benefit to the state, then it, it's, uh... I- I'm sorry, it's at fair market value. Uh- [0:15:39] Okay [0:15:39] ... if, if it... There is a, a benefit to the state, then it's a nominal fee. [0:15:43] Okay. That's what I thought. [0:15:44] Yes, sir. [0:15:44] Okay. Please continue. Excuse me. [0:15:46] Absolutely. Um, and, uh, I think I was at Colquitt County. The, uh, city of Moultrie, uh, granted easement for 4.6 acres at the Southern Regional Technical College for construction of an underground electrical, uh, and gas distribution lines to serve the campus expansion for a cost of $10. DeKalb County granted an easement to the Georgia Power Company for 1.4 acres at Georgia Piedmont Technical College for construction of, uh, underground and overhead electrical distribution lines- [0:16:25] Mm-hmm [0:16:25] ... to serve a new- [0:16:27] Excuse me [0:16:27] ... commercial truck driving facility at a cost of $10. In Emanuel County, granted an easement to Excelsior Electric Membership Co-op for .5 of an acre at George L. Smith State Park for construction of an underground distribution line to serve the new campground for $10. In Glenn County, granted an easement to HIC Altama LLC for 2.5 acres at Altama Plantation Wildlife Management Area for construction of stormwater conveyance infrastructure and outfalls for $10. [0:17:04] Hang on, Tim. [0:17:05] I'm sorry. [0:17:06] Who is HIC Al- Altama? [0:17:10] Who? [0:17:10] Yeah, who, who is that? What, what are they? What do they do? [0:17:16] Senator, I actually don't have an answer to that. I would have to... I can find out and get back with you. [0:17:21] Okay. [0:17:22] I'm not familiar with them, to be honest with you. [0:17:27] And the purpose is, I guess, understanding the... That's, that helps me understand the purpose. [0:17:32] Yes, sir. Uh, Hoya, uh, or Hoyer, uh, is a, uh... It's actually a company that has, uh, property that is contiguous to the, uh, [0:17:48] uh, a wildlife management area there. And their contention was that there was some, uh, water flooding on their property due to the grading of the, uh, wildlife management area. And as a part of the settlement agreement, uh, the Department of Natural Resources agreed to, uh, put in or, or a, uh, give an easement so that HIC Altama could go in and do some grading, uh, to handle the, uh, the, the drainage issue there- [0:18:27] Okay [0:18:27] ... on that property. [0:18:28] We had a question about Glenn County. We did. I think it was somewhere else, but we did have some questions about Glenn, uh, Glenn County property in the past. [0:18:38] Yeah. The, the HIC Altama i- is a, a private company that has land that's contiguous to the Department of Natural Resources. [0:18:47] I just, I would wanna understand that one better before we- [0:18:50] Mm-hmm. [0:18:52] Yeah, just under... That, that would be one that- [0:18:54] Fine [0:18:54] ... I wanna highlight for you that- [0:18:56] Okay [0:18:56] ... probably. I get it when we're giving it to Georgia Power and utilities. But I wanna understand our grants to, to, uh, to them a little bit better. Just when it goes to private, private individuals, I don't know, it just flags for me. May- if I'm the only one, then I mean, I can get outvoted. [0:19:17] Yeah. It's, uh... W- what, what is it? Explained to us Department of Natural Resources, as a part of their agreement, uh, was to provide an easement so that they could put in a drainage system there to, uh, stop the flooding on their property. [0:19:35] Well, perhaps we can come back with a full explanation of that for the grand easement of our, our chairman. [0:19:43] Okay. And, and, Senator, if you don't mind me asking, exactly what, what you need to know? [0:19:49] Yeah. I, um, anytime we're granting money to, or granting land to- [0:19:54] Profits [0:19:56] ... uh, entities that aren't part of us- [0:19:58] That's right [0:19:58] ... or utilities, it's gonna raise a flag with me. [0:20:01] Mm-hmm. [0:20:01] Mm-hmm. [0:20:01] That's, so that's the... My question is, um, I get it, sometimes we do it at fair market value. Y'all know sometimes I'm gonna question your fair market value. We've had that discussion before. Um, so obviously this one's gonna flag for me just as a grant to an entity that appears to be privately held, not alleging any issues whatsoever, but I do wanna understand it. [0:20:26] Okay. [0:20:29] Senator. [0:20:37] It, it explains- [0:20:38] It's your copy [0:20:39] ... explains it. I, I can't share it with you, but do you want me to... Do you want to see it? [0:20:43] Yeah. [0:20:43] I'll show you. [0:20:48] I think that's probably referencing the same thing. It's saying a wildlife management issue. There's dispute. [0:21:09] That's, uh, that's, uh, so here's the- [0:21:13] Go ahead. [0:21:13] Sorry, Mr. Chairman. [0:21:15] So we're in some type of legal dispute with them now? [0:21:17] It, it was a l- legal dispute, and as, as part of the settlement, this is what they agreed to. [0:21:24] Is to- [0:21:24] Was to grant HIC a, uh- [0:21:27] Two acre [0:21:27] ... easement. [0:21:28] Any idea what the value of that would be? 'Cause I'm just trying to figure out what... If that's- [0:21:32] $10 [0:21:33] ... worth our settlement. I- [0:21:34] Yeah. [0:21:35] I, I'm, I'm with that too. [0:21:36] I'm being- [0:21:36] Yeah, I- [0:21:37] I know I'm being nitpicky, but I, I kind of feel like that's our job. [0:21:39] No. [0:21:39] So that's- [0:21:40] That's it. I can find out. [0:21:43] Thank you. [0:21:44] And, and that's in line with what we discussed earlier. When it's a state institution, we understand automatically what we're doing, but as the chairman pointed out, it's, you know, it's... W- if it's a private entity, that's another thing altogether. Okay. Are we good, Mr. Chairman? [0:21:59] Yes, sir. And again, I, I don't think I'm gonna be as picky on like... I, I know we got one coming up with Atlantic Waste. I get it. We're gonna have to build a facility there where they can take our trash off of the jail. Totally get that part. [0:22:09] Mm-hmm. [0:22:09] Uh, I don't understand exactly why, and want to make sure I understand if we're gonna give away two and a half acres of a wildlife management area, how that kind of came to be. That's it. It, uh... It's no, uh, no, uh, no judgment on you guys, please. [0:22:29] In Habersham County, we have a request to grant an easement to George Power Company for .24 of an acre, uh, for the construction of underground electrical distribution lines to serve the Dr. Mark A. Ivester Center for Living and, and Learning for $10. In Hall County, grant an easement to George Power Company for 1.6 acres at Lanier Technical College for construction of electrical distribution lines to serve a new roundabout project at a fair market value not less than $650. [0:23:08] When, when, when you... W- what measurement do you use, what monetary measurement you use when you say fair market value? Is it peculiar to the county, the area, or just a, just a sheet you go by for the properties commission? [0:23:23] Uh, typically, we would go by, uh... If, if, if we have an appraisal done, um, it would either be at the appraised cost or at a fair market value no less than 650. So we would have it appraised, and whatever it appraised at is what the charge would be. [0:23:41] Okay. Thank you. [0:23:42] Yes, sir. But no less than $650. [0:23:44] Okay. Go ahead, sir. [0:23:47] Um, in Laurens County, grant an easement to Little Ocmulgee Electric Membership Co-op at the Oconee Fall Line for 4.36 acres at the technical college- [0:24:03] Mm [0:24:04] ... for construction of underground distribution lines to serve the renovation of the Stewart Building for $10. Uh, McDuffie County, grant an easement to Jefferson Energy Co-op for .52 of an acre at McDuffie Public Fishing Area for the construction of underground electrical distribution lines to serve the maintenance facility for $10. In Morgan and Walton Counties, grant an easement to AT&T for three acres at the Rivian project site for construction and relocation of communication lines to serve the project site for $10. [0:24:43] In Oconee County, grant an easement to Walton Electric Membership Co-op for .5 of an acre at the new Division of Driver Services Customer Service Center for the construction of underground electrical distribution lines to serve the new customer service center facility for $10. In Paulding- [0:25:03] Did you, did you mention Muskogee? Did you... Or did I not... At top of the page. [0:25:09] Uh, Muskogee County. [0:25:12] Grant the Electric Membership Corporation of consideration of $10. [0:25:16] What's that? [0:25:17] Juvenile justice project. [0:25:19] Uh-oh. [0:25:19] That's the very last one, Muskogee County. [0:25:21] Okay. So it's on my pages. [0:25:23] Yes, sir. [0:25:23] Okay. Go ahead. Go right ahead. Excuse me. [0:25:25] Okay. Uh- [0:25:26] Yeah, I, I was gonna go over the substitutes at the end. [0:25:28] That, that's all right. Go right ahead. [0:25:29] Um, then we've got, uh, let's see. Was I- [0:25:35] Paulding County [0:25:35] ... McDuffie County? [0:25:37] Oconee. [0:25:37] Oh, uh, I'm sorry. Oconee County. Grant an easement to Walton Electric Membership Co-op for .5 of an acre at the new... Well, I, I think I did that one as well. Um- [0:25:49] You did. [0:25:49] Driver services. [0:25:50] Mm-hmm. [0:25:50] Yeah. [0:25:51] Paulding. [0:25:51] So now Paulding. [0:25:52] Paulding. Paulding County, grant an easement to the Georgia Department of Transportation for .3 of an acre at the, uh, Chattahoochee Technical College, uh, for a road widening and reconstruction of State Route 61. That'll be from, uh, County Route 467 to US 278, uh, at a cost of $83,700. In Peach County, grant an easement to Flint Electric for .2 of an acre for the construction of overhead electrical distribution lines for infrastructure, uh, improvements to maintain reliability at the camp for $10. [0:26:35] Talbot County, grant an easement to Timberlands 2 LLC for two acres at Eupatoria Ravines for ingress and egress access for $650. [0:26:47] Terry, that'd be another one I'd want to understand a little more. [0:26:50] Gotcha. [0:26:50] That's my county, yes. [0:26:52] Mm-hmm. [0:26:53] And I know there's something else in the Talbot County area about... I thought that there was some, some kind of condemnation, but the governor, governor paid them so much money for it. It may not be in conjunction with or connection with this, but I would like to m- make sure that we look at that as well. Thank you. [0:27:11] Mm-hmm. [0:27:15] Okay. Tift County grant an easement to Georgia Power Company for .17 of an acre at the Tifton Agricultural Laboratory for construction electrical distribution lines to ensure consistent and reliable power supply to the laboratory for $10. In Hamilton County, Tennessee, uh, grant an easement to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for 116 acres to, uh, a part of the Western & Atlantic Railroad for various road improvement and safety projects over the railroad at a cost of $10. [0:27:54] And then we get to the substitutions for, uh, House Resolution 1051. That's, uh, Chatham County. We have a, a request to grant an easement to Chatham County, uh, for .5 of an acre at the Wormsloe historic site for construction of a stormwater drainage improvement for, uh, $10. [0:28:19] In Long County, request to grant an easement to the Atlantic Waste Services for .4 of an acre at the Long State Prison for the construction of a paved driveway for ingress/egress access to Long County Development Authority's property for fair market value of no less than $650. And then the last one is Muskogee County grant an easement to the Flint Electric Membership Co-op for .07 of an acre at the Muskogee Youth Detention Center for the construction of an underground electrical transmission line, uh, for the new Muskogee Youth Detention Center for a cost of $10. [0:29:05] Mr. Chairman, that, uh, is- [0:29:08] Any questions or comments from members of the panel? [0:29:13] Mr. Chairman, my, my question is, would you... What, what would be easiest and best? If we just get the information on those two, or that we... Or would you prefer us to pull those two off and put them on a different bill? What, what would be easiest for the commission or the, the author? Or... You want- [0:29:27] Let's not pull them off. Let's get the information. [0:29:29] Get the information. [0:29:30] Oh, sure. [0:29:30] We can get that immediately. [0:29:31] Yeah. Okay. [0:29:32] And the last one, we didn't explode. [0:29:33] We drop those two, and then- [0:29:36] Yeah. To- [0:29:37] ... exclude those- [0:29:38] So you'd rather us right now just take no action- [0:29:40] Yeah [0:29:40] ... until we get that information? [0:29:42] If it's all right with the chairman and the committee, when we bring the other one, uh, back, uh, take it off the table and put the information in it. Like, let's do both of them at the same time. [0:29:54] Okay. [0:29:55] That way- [0:29:55] All right. That would keep it clean. Okay. [0:29:57] Mm-hmm. [0:29:57] All right. All right then. Any questions or comments from other members of the committee? [0:30:04] Yes, sir. Thank you. [0:30:05] Otherwise, we have no other business before us. We stand adjourned, and we look to see you then. Dean Greene, you lead the parade, okay? [0:30:15] We'll lead the parade. Thank y'all so much. [0:30:16] No. [0:30:17] Thank you, Chairman. [0:30:18] Thank you, Chairman. [0:30:18] They're gonna... They'll meet with... We... They'll come back. It's on the table. Like, we'll make a... Thank you. Appreciate you.