[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6632628,"mediaKeyId","2671288-3d340a43e0fc2f96f645b324a36bd42e","parentId",2671288,"title","Committee approves substitute to restructure Central State Hospital redevelopment authority amid contested local testimony and ongoing probes","audioSeconds",2013,"startMs",2584000,"endMs",4597000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671288-3d340a43e0fc2f96f645b324a36bd42e&start=2584&end=4597","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671288-3d340a43e0fc2f96f645b324a36bd42e/thumbnail_2584000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6632628/Georgia/Committee-approves-substitute-to-restructure-Central-State-Hospital-redevelopment-authority-amid-contested-local-testimony-and-ongoing-probes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632628-0e5b35e0157f4f7a4c43e7a6203f17ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1770554827&Signature=koJ8EyFkHMucwohkmrY1aokq~sN9jCgIEoqyzcfBFF4Cm~ZU3Wza7SZmVY4oVWyHOYq-rbU4wYiz0hcX5N72f4eoUHc9tpgQk62rDK4ThMP-R9V6CVxUHuuU7HtLw4XNysDxXR6ZDROn67~ox2rB0HeHuLCzVk9jEKNDbh69qA53Nts5gHMUGiWUbFJnaQvotRzwnhUnrOIqwduz~sh9YDXFF010YS1GCY-ndcGeaKLKAbDi~2qCs6VUbB6Kv8YY00touLAUBP-IxcXvEoaT53CKmSbJdY0p593zD3cZ-ERoh4thWImEc-93u7hroHLDONLKxq5LhYgl8xoQocQyTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-03-18T15:12:04.957Z","article","Senator Williams, sponsor: \"What we have is trying to straighten out a little issue down in Milledgeville, Baldwin County,\" Senator Williams told the House Committee on Intergovernmental Coordination, describing Central State Hospital as a 2,000-acre campus with roughly 100 buildings that the state still owns.

The substitute for SB 260 would change the structure of the Central State Hospital redevelopment authority by reducing the number of local board members (the draft before committee set four members, three voting) and placing the authority under the Department of Community Affairs with appointments made by statewide leaders (the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker) and a State Properties representative. Senator Williams and supporters said the change would provide state legal counsel, auditing oversight and state-level capacity to market and redevelop the site more quickly.

Supporters: Baldwin County Commissioner Andrew Strickland and others described the local economic distress around Milledgeville after the hospital closed and urged state help. Commissioner Strickland told the committee the county's poverty rate is much higher than the national average and that the campus is a large-scale blight that requires state-level assistance.

Opponents and controversy: Multiple local witnesses and a former redevelopment authority executive director told the committee they oppose the measure because it would remove local appointment authority and local input from decisions about Central State's future. Dr. Joycelyn Nelson, a city-appointed board member, said: \"Stripping away our local representation means stripping away our ability to help shape our own future.\" Mary Demian, the authority's former executive director, and attorney Matt Ressing testified the authority had been operating with local plans and commercial interest but that recent board decisions and sales raised transparency and conflict-of-interest concerns; Ressing said in testimony to the committee: \"It is a question of corruption. It is a question of conflicts of interest and favoritism\" and said he had provided evidence to the inspector general.

Senator Williams told the committee the substitute would place the authority under state auditing rules, grant access to state legal counsel (Attorney General), and help finalize pending property sales that had been delayed by governance disputes. He described prior creation of the authority under Governor Nathan Deal in 2012 and said the state already owns many parcels; the substitute, he said, is intended to help convey and market property that has been vacant for decades.

Committee action: Representative Thomas moved that the substitute do pass; a later motion to table the bill failed. After discussion and testimony, the committee approved the substitute by voice/show-of-hands vote. The transcript records that a motion to table failed and that the \"motion does pass\" for do-pass by substitute; the record does not include a detailed roll-call tally in the committee transcript.

Why it matters: Central State is a large property with significant local economic implications. Supporters argued the state-level structure will provide the authority the legal, audit and marketing resources to advance redevelopment; opponents warned the change removes local appointments and argued the board and recent transactions required further investigation. Several witnesses told the committee they had provided materials to the inspector general.

Next steps and follow-up: The substitute passed the committee and will advance. Opponents asked for tabling and additional review; at least one witness said he had supplied documents and that the inspector general is investigating; the committee record shows public requests for more time and study but the substitute still received committee approval.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Intragovernmental Coordination 03.18.25","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Williams, sponsor: \"What we have is trying to straighten out a little issue down in Milledgeville, Baldwin County,\" Senator Williams told the House Committee on Intergovernmental Coordination, describing Central State Hospital as a 2,000-acre campus with roughly 100 buildings that the state still owns.","taxTitle","Intragovernmental Coordination, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",17224,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632632,"House committee backs substitute to let North Fulton cities control development authority appointments",2241,1875000,4116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671288-3d340a43e0fc2f96f645b324a36bd42e&start=1875&end=4116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671288-3d340a43e0fc2f96f645b324a36bd42e/thumbnail_1875000.jpg","/articles/6632632/Georgia/House-committee-backs-substitute-to-let-North-Fulton-cities-control-development-authority-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632632-7b3ef9a9b44a60f4b8e9b564b7e25ee6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770554827&Signature=GZDq4TceSBiBPXmlz0WtdRsSk35KjY1Ab0R-riKj9BnYBI2zgceQNKLKBHIKNa9xkawku8V8Pmwj3pP-DUuX85QkDauh-IFPeIWEuAkjqCGa-yW6YnLU6vyJn~cFsDmjRXWy5~d0IJYPnpLk~UkeuZBu4KGNH0iVRfnoEy5UtSlbqjj7NRvydn4MzHcxrA1crvsQyBL9VlxIpRa8rE0Q5dRZcToZ0uVNoSDUwCMVOh~il1DZzjw3PmkAzYrrwQhEHjPKAzf-HEHZo4z9Y-IbhHu81w695x0fnjXYIsscf1SKGAMm2GPbPSXWFoy661oPIIvwrue495FLVfhSbRJwHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Beach, sponsor: \"What this bill does is simply create a North Fulton development authority,\" said Senator Beach in committee testimony, explaining the policy rationale for concentrating tools for economic development in the north Fulton area.

Speaker Pro Tem Tim Jones presented a substitute, saying the measure \"does not create a new development authority, but ... defines a massively municipalized county\" and that the version before committee \"absolutely honors local control.\" The LC number for that substitute was read into the record (LC 473627 S).

The substitute was presented as narrower than the original bill: it would restrict the proposal to Fulton County and allow any North Fulton municipality to choose, by ordinance, whether to participate in a development-authority arrangement rather than creating a statewide or countywide mandate. Committee proponents argued the change protects local choice for cities such as Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs and Milton.

Supporters framed the substitute as a governance tool for the Georgia 400 economic corridor. Senator Beach told the committee the corridor includes hundreds of tech and financial services firms and significant planned road investments, and he characterized the substitute as a way for North Fulton municipalities to manage growth and incentives.

Opponents and interested parties raised concerns and asked for review. Jessica Corbett, Director of External Affairs for Fulton County, said the Fulton County Board of Commissioners opposed the original bill and asked to see the substitute text; she said the county was concerned about ensuring representation for the county and school systems whose taxes might be affected. Kwanzaa Hall, chairman of the Fulton County Development Authority, urged more time to review the substitute and said the authority has delivered projects and jobs in North Fulton; Hall asked for study and collaboration rather than an immediate structural change.

Representative Clark moved that the substitute do pass. Representative Clark's motion carried after discussion and a show-of-hands vote; the transcript records the committee \"Motion does pass\" but does not provide an unambiguous roll-call tally.

Why it matters: The substitute reshapes which bodies would have appointment or operational authority over economic-development incentives in a densely developed portion of Fulton County. Supporters called it a means to increase local control for the six North Fulton municipalities; opponents flagged potential impacts on county-wide incentives, tax abatements, and existing contracts and bonds.

What the substitute says about existing agreements: Speaker Pro Tem Jones emphasized the substitute \"makes it clear that nothing in this short bill would affect any prior agreements, any bond payments, and anything that is preexisting.\" The committee recorded that the measure would not change existing contracts until and unless a North Fulton municipality opts out of the Fulton County Development Authority.

Next steps: The substitute passed the committee and will advance in the legislative process. The Fulton County Board said it wants to review the substitute text further and may pursue follow-up discussions with sponsors.

","A substitute to SB 151 won committee approval after sponsors said it preserves local control by allowing North Fulton municipalities to opt out of the Fulton County Development Authority; the substitute limits the bill’s scope to Fulton County and does not itself create a new authority.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6632636,"Committee approves bill allowing City of Atlanta to transfer small park parcel to Atlanta Public Schools",228,1621000,1849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2671288-3d340a43e0fc2f96f645b324a36bd42e&start=1621&end=1849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2671288-3d340a43e0fc2f96f645b324a36bd42e/thumbnail_1621000.jpg","/articles/6632636/Georgia/Committee-approves-bill-allowing-City-of-Atlanta-to-transfer-small-park-parcel-to-Atlanta-Public-Schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6632636-06cbb96efd61da197f5ca9b3e75ac603/orig.mp4?Expires=1770554827&Signature=HGTGDss1pB-dgtnWZtjmbskguSBMEdjGye0rSG44NCPBSgTun7LwfO0liWa4pDE5CKAYxpn7s1wrV5sakFj5eUszpSvTustSMVnhavR6Gu0mg9n-PP51wf1vkEYGQylvpCYRYBRCKtCpbKqWwZDtk0~0nSLkjGTTL~qu-O-oVUl2KgfC2o78BJRpqQ~ao2CmFyKp72obx8W5zyiSnXGRQW7IR-af~M9UYOzeQbmIxMiAbROxFnQAwknun8urYbbu4C~cIHiuLJhxRvFtObB2auPtPsVPj1~FXV3bMsQ4zAUZuJg~vW6FYShlxFpb1hzcSGMlg~kF9HYg3jV6oaUtUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Halperin, sponsor: \"SB 252 is a pretty simple bill ... it simply allows the city of Atlanta to transfer a piece of property over to Atlanta public schools,\" told the House Committee on Intergovernmental Coordination during a morning hearing.

The committee voted to pass the substitute for SB 252, which would let the City of Atlanta convey a parcel adjacent to Hope Hill Elementary School to Atlanta Public Schools for use as a fenced play area, provided the transfer is part of a no-loss land-swap that does not reduce the municipality's total park acreage.

Why it matters: The substitute narrows the authorized transfers by adding that conveyed property must be used by the school system for educational purposes and includes explicit language that \"at no point in time shall the cumulative impact of such conveyances result in a decrease or net loss of park acreage owned by the municipality,\" language the bill sponsor read into the record.

Details and actions: Senator Halperin described the measure as a general bill needed because state code limits certain conveyances by cities with populations over 300,000. The parcel in question sits next to Hope Hill Elementary and was described as an existing tricycle park that Atlanta Public Schools wants to fence and use as a play area. Erica Long of Atlanta Public Schools appeared in support during the committee hearing.

Representative Matheak moved that the substitute be given a \"do pass\" recommendation; the motion was seconded and approved by the committee on a voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

The bill includes an LC number (LC443164S) for the substitute the sponsor read for the record.

The committee discussion was brief and focused on local use and the no-net-loss park language. No statutory citation beyond the general reference to a municipal conveyance restriction for cities with populations above 300,000 was offered in committee testimony.

Next steps: The committee transmitted the substitute with a favorable recommendation; further committee or chamber action and any final terms will appear in later filings.

","The House Committee on Intergovernmental Coordination voted to pass a substitute of SB 252 to allow the City of Atlanta to transfer a small parcel next to Hope Hill Elementary to Atlanta Public Schools in a no-loss land swap, with a prohibition on net loss of municipal park acreage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves substitute to restructure Central State Hospital redevelopment authority amid contested local testimony and ongoing probes

House committee backs substitute to let North Fulton cities control development authority appointments

Committee approves bill allowing City of Atlanta to transfer small park parcel to Atlanta Public Schools