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Bill > HB309

GA HB309

GA HB309
Local government; require adoption of a resolution or ordinance and voter approval prior to abolishment of a police force that was created by such method

summary

Introduced
02/06/2025
In Committee
03/27/2026
Crossed Over
03/04/2025
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT To amend Title 8, Title 12, and Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing, conservation and natural resources, and local government, respectively, so as to revise provisions related to inspections submitted by private professional providers; to revise provisions regarding denial or nonacceptance of permits; to require local issuing authorities to provide rejected permit applicants with a written list of reasons for denial within specified time frames; to provide for refunding of fees; to provide for mandamus; to toll such timing requirements in certain circumstances; to provide exceptions; to require adoption of a resolution or ordinance and voter approval prior to abolishment of a police force that was created by such method; to provide for a referendum; to provide general provisions for counties and municipalities regarding the acceptance, denial, or nonacceptance of certain permits; to require unambiguous criteria for approval of permits; to require completed applications; to require local issuing authorities to provide rejected permit applicants with a written list of reasons for denial within specified time frames; to provide for refunding of fees; to provide for exceptions; to provide for access to real-time status information relative to building permit application status; to provide that local moratoria shall not apply to certain properties in certain circumstances; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill makes several changes to Georgia law, primarily concerning local government processes and permits. It requires that if a local government created a police force through a resolution or ordinance and voter approval, abolishing that police force must also be done through a resolution or ordinance and require voter approval in a referendum. The bill also revises rules for building and land disturbance permits, mandating that local authorities must provide rejected applicants with a written list of specific reasons for denial within set timeframes and potentially refund fees if deadlines are missed, and it clarifies what constitutes a "completed application" and sets stricter timelines for permit reviews, preventing delays from unrelated issues. Furthermore, it requires local governments that issue a significant number of building permits to provide real-time, publicly accessible online information about the status of all building permit applications, and it stipulates that local moratoria (temporary bans) on permits or zoning decisions cannot apply to properties that have already received official written approval for a specific development scope or for which permits unrelated to the moratorium have been issued.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs, Justice

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Senate Tabled (on 03/31/2026)

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