summary
Introduced
03/31/2025
03/31/2025
In Committee
04/02/2025
04/02/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
AN ACT To create the Northeast Regional Water Authority; to provide a short title; to authorize such authority to acquire or construct regional water supply reservoirs; to operate and maintain self-liquidating projects embracing sources of water supply and the distribution and sale of water and other related facilities to individuals, public and private corporations, and political subdivisions; to provide for the membership and for appointment of members of the authority; to provide for quorums; to provide for the selection of officers; to provide definitions; to provide for the purpose of the authority; to confer and limit powers and impose duties on the authority; to authorize the authority to contract with others pertaining to the water utilities and facilities and to execute leases and all undertakings deemed necessary or convenient for the operation of such undertakings or projects; to provide for payments to site jurisdictions; to provide for the addition and withdrawal of member political subdivisions; to provide contracting guidelines; to authorize the issuance of revenue bonds or certificates of the authority payable from the revenues, tolls, fees, charges, and earnings of the authority and to pay the cost of such undertakings or projects; to provide for application of the "Revenue Bond Law"; to authorize the collection and pledging of the revenues and earnings of the authority for the payment of such bonds or certificates; to authorize the execution of trust indentures to secure the payment thereof and to define the rights of the holders of such obligations; to provide for the authority to condemn property of every kind; to authorize the issuance of refunding bonds or certificates; to fix the venue or jurisdiction of actions relating to any provisions of this Act; to provide for financial statements and audit reports; to provide that powers provided are supplemental; to provide tort immunity; to provide for liberal construction; to preserve powers of other political subdivisions and authorities; to provide for severability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
AI Summary
This bill creates the Northeast Regional Water Authority, a public corporation and political subdivision of Georgia comprising six initial member entities: Banks County, Franklin County, Madison County, the City of Commerce, the City of Elberton, and the Jackson County Water and Sewer Authority. The authority's primary purposes are to acquire and develop regional water supply reservoirs, treat and distribute water wholesale to member entities and other water providers, and potentially provide recreational facilities around these reservoirs. The bill establishes a governance structure where each member entity appoints one representative to the authority's board, and allows for other adjacent counties or municipalities to join or withdraw through a specific approval process. The authority is granted broad powers to acquire land, issue revenue bonds, contract with various entities, and develop water infrastructure, but with important limitations such as only providing wholesale water services and not directly incurring debt for member entities. The bill specifies detailed financial mechanisms for bond issuance, including provisions for creating sinking funds, setting rates, and maintaining financial transparency through annual audits and reports. Importantly, the revenue bonds issued by the authority will not be considered debt of the member entities or the state, and the bonds will be payable solely from the authority's own revenues.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Senate Read and Referred (on 04/02/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71885 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/238230 |
Loading...