House Resolution 98 is a broad property authorization measure that allows the State of Georgia, acting through the State Properties Commission, to grant a series of non-exclusive easements across state-owned land in multiple counties. The easements are for utility, infrastructure, and public works projects, including electric distribution lines, fiber optic cable, gas lines, water and sewer improvements, a bridge replacement project, a transmission tie line for battery storage, and related access or relocation needs. The affected properties include state parks, wildlife management areas, technical college campuses, a customer service center, and other state-owned sites in Barrow, Bryan, Chatham, Cherokee, Coweta, Fulton, Glynn, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Jeff Davis, Lamar, McDuffie, Paulding, Walker, and Walton counties.
The resolution sets out project-specific terms for each easement. In general, it limits use to the described utility or construction purpose, reserves title in the state, allows only necessary tree and brush removal, requires compliance with other permitting and environmental laws, and provides that the easement reverts to the state if abandoned. It also authorizes the State Properties Commission to negotiate reasonable terms, use more accurate legal descriptions if needed, and require relocation of facilities if the state later needs the land for another use. Most easements are granted for nominal consideration of $10, while some require fair market value or a specified payment, such as the City of Atlanta easement and certain Georgia Power easements.
The bill’s practical impact is to streamline and legalize multiple encroachments on state property for public and quasi-public infrastructure projects without transferring ownership of the land. It creates or confirms the legal authority for utilities, local governments, and related entities to place lines, transformers, sewer and water infrastructure, and other facilities on state land, while preserving the state’s underlying property interests and control through the State Properties Commission. Because the resolution is self-executing upon gubernatorial approval or becoming law without approval, it directly affects state property administration and the terms under which state land may be used by outside entities.
The general sentiment around the bill appears strongly favorable and noncontroversial. The voting record shows unanimous support in both chambers: the House adopted the measure 166-0, the Senate adopted the substitute 49-0, and the House then agreed to the Senate substitute 166-0. No committee transcript or recorded debate is provided, and the unanimous votes suggest broad agreement that the easements serve public purposes such as utility service, transportation improvements, and economic development.
There is little visible contention in the available record. The main policy issue embedded in the resolution is the balance between allowing infrastructure access and preserving state control over public land, especially at parks and wildlife management areas. The bill addresses that concern by making the easements non-exclusive, requiring reversion on abandonment, and preserving the state’s right to relocate facilities if necessary. The only likely points of interest are the varying compensation terms and the use of state land for private utility or local government projects, but no opposition is reflected in the votes or available discussion.
HR 98 authorizes the State Properties Commission to grant multiple non-exclusive easements over state-owned property for utility, transportation, and public infrastructure projects across 19 articles. It affects state property administration rather than creating a new general code provision, and it preserves state ownership while allowing limited use of state land by Georgia Power, Spectrum, Atlanta Gas Light, local governments, water and sewer authorities, and electric membership corporations. The resolution also requires recording of the easements, compliance with environmental and permitting laws, and provides reversion and relocation terms that protect the state’s interests.
Any potential contention centers on the use of state-owned parks, wildlife management areas, and technical college property for utility and infrastructure easements, particularly where private utilities receive access to public land. The resolution addresses those concerns by limiting the easements to specific uses, keeping them non-exclusive, reserving title in the state, and requiring reversion or relocation if the state later needs the land. Compensation also varies by project, ranging from nominal $10 consideration to fair market value or a fixed payment, but no recorded opposition appears in the legislative history provided.