summary
Introduced
03/10/2025
03/10/2025
In Committee
03/20/2025
03/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
AN ACT To amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to establish the Better Georgia Without Blight Fund for the purpose of providing financing and technical assistance for the rehabilitation of blighted properties; to provide for definitions; to provide for such fund; to provide for criteria and standards; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for reporting; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for an effective date conditioned upon appropriations; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Better Georgia Without Blight Fund within the Department of Community Affairs to help local governments address and rehabilitate blighted properties. The legislation defines blighted properties as those meeting specific criteria and creates a fund to provide financial assistance like loans, loan guarantees, and matching grants, along with technical support to local governments. The bill recognizes that blighted properties increase government service costs and negatively impact community safety and attractiveness. The Department of Community Affairs will be responsible for developing application criteria, which must include public property inspection, property owner notification, community stakeholder meetings, documentation of revenue loss, and local rehabilitation commitment. The commissioner will submit annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly starting July 1, 2026, detailing the fund's implementation and findings. The program is set to automatically expire on June 30, 2031, unless the General Assembly chooses to continue it. Importantly, the bill's implementation is contingent upon specific appropriations being made, meaning it will only become effective if and when funding is allocated through a separate appropriations act.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (5)
Last Action
House Withdrawn, Recommitted (on 04/04/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71278 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/235787 |
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