25 LC 47 3372/AP
House Bill 709 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Anderson of the 10
th
and Erwin of the 32
nd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To authorize the City of Demorest, Georgia, to exercise all redevelopment and other powers
1
provided for under Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Georgia Constitution and2
Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment Powers Law," as amended; to3
provide for a referendum; to provide for effective dates; to provide for automatic repeal4
under certain circumstances; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
The City of Demorest, Georgia, shall be and is authorized to exercise all redevelopment and8
other powers provided for under Chapter 44 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., the "Redevelopment9
Powers Law," as amended. The intention of this Act is to authorize the City of Demorest to10
undertake and carry out community redevelopment, to create tax allocation districts, to issue11
tax allocation bonds, and to incur other obligations within the meaning of and as fully12
permitted under the provisions of Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b) of the Constitution13
of the State of Georgia of 1983, as amended, and to authorize the City of Demorest to14
exercise redevelopment powers as fully as the "Redevelopment Powers Law" may now or15
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hereafter permit and not to limit any redevelopment powers permitted under the
16
"Redevelopment Powers Law."17
SECTION 2.18
The election superintendent of the City of Demorest shall call and conduct an election, as19
provided in this section, for the purpose of submitting this Act to the electors of the City of20
Demorest for approval or rejection. The election superintendent shall conduct that election21
on the Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2025, and shall issue the call22
and conduct that election as provided by general law. The election superintendent shall23
cause the date and purpose of the election to be published once at least 90 days immediately24
preceding the date thereof and once a week for two weeks immediately preceding the date25
thereof in the official organ of Habersham County, Georgia. The ballot shall have written26
or printed thereon the words:27
"( ) YES28
( ) NO29
30
Shall the Act be approved which authorizes the City of Demorest, Georgia,
to exercise all redevelopment powers allowed under the 'Redevelopment
Powers Law,' as it may be amended from time to time?"
All persons desiring to vote for approval of the Act shall vote "Yes," and all persons desiring
31
to vote for rejection of the Act shall vote "No." If more than one-half of the votes cast on32
such question are for approval of the Act, then Section 1 of this Act shall become of full33
force and effect immediately. If this Act is not so approved or if the election is not34
conducted as provided in this section, Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective and35
this Act shall be automatically repealed on the first day of January immediately following36
such election date. The expense of such election shall be borne by the City of Demorest. It37
shall be the election superintendent's duty to certify the result thereof to the Secretary of38
State.39
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SECTION 3.
40
Except as otherwise provided in Section 2 of this Act, this Act shall become effective upon41
its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.42
SECTION 4.43
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.44
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