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Senate Resolution 424
By: Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Albers of the 56th, Tillery of the 19th, Cowsert of the
46th, Watson of the 1st and others
ADOPTED SENATE
A RESOLUTION
Creating the Senate Study Committee on Franchise Fees; and for other purposes.
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WHEREAS, the substantial growth of large load electricity customers is impacting many2
unincorporated areas of this state; and3
WHEREAS, municipalities lease their rights of way under franchise agreements to electric4
utility providers and receive significant compensation in return, including from within many 5
unincorporated areas of this state; and6
WHEREAS, the right for an electric utility provider to utilize county rights of way to reach7
its customers has economic value that is not currently being recognized for the benefit of the8
county and its unincorporated area residents; and9
WHEREAS, for decades, residents of unincorporated areas have paid municipal franchise10
fees to cities in which they do not reside through a charge included in the base rate of their11
electricity bills; and12
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WHEREAS, the unprecedented growth of large load electricity customers necessitates a
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reconsideration of the assessment and allocation of municipal franchise fees for electric14
services within unincorporated areas of this state; and15
WHEREAS, this state has a compelling government interest to ensure that large load16
electricity customers, which are particularly situated, are assessed franchise fees or tariffs as17
a condition of conducting their operations in the unincorporated areas of the county.18
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:19
(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee20
on Franchise Fees.21
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the22
Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall23
designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.24
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,25
issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or26
legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.27
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee28
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or29
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and30
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.31
(5) Allowances and funding.32
(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided33
for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.34
(B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member35
of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds36
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necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds
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appropriated to the Senate.38
(6) Report.39
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that40
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the41
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to42
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.43
(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for44
proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)45
of this paragraph.46
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of47
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.48
A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with49
the Secretary of the Senate.50
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary51
of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.52
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.53
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