Bill > HB678

This bill amends Georgia law to establish clear sovereign immunity guidelines for local authorities with less than state-wide jurisdiction. Specifically, the bill defines "authority" as a state, county, or municipal instrumentality with a specialized public purpose and limited geographic scope, and grants such authorities the same sovereign immunity protections currently afforded to counties. The bill caps monetary damages at $1 million per single occurrence for any individual authority, with a total aggregate liability limit of $3 million per occurrence. Importantly, these damage caps cannot be disclosed to a jury during trial, and punitive damages or pre-judgment interest are prohibited. The bill specifies that post-judgment interest shall be 7 percent per annum, and tort claims against such authorities must be tried by a judge with a jury (though parties may mutually agree to a bench trial). The provisions will only apply to acts or omissions occurring on or after July 1, 2025, and the bill explicitly states that this does not constitute a constitutional waiver of immunity, which must be separately proven by the claimant. The core intent is to provide consistent legal protections for local authorities when they are sued for potential negligence or tort claims.

Government Affairs

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70979