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HR 755

House Study Committee on Electric Franchise Fees for Unincorporated Areas; create

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chas Cannon and 5 co-sponsors

Creates a temporary House study committee to review electric franchise fees for unincorporated areas, focusing on large-load customers, to guide fee reforms and legislation.

House Second Readers
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Bill Summary · HR 755

Summary — HR 755: House Study Committee on Electric Franchise Fees for Unincorporated Areas

Status: House Second Readers (Introduced Jan 28, 2025). Adopted and reported enrolled June 1, 2025. Resolution — creates a temporary House study committee. Related bill: HR 1336 (companion).

Purpose / intent

HR 755 creates a temporary House study committee to examine how electric franchise fees are assessed and allocated with respect to unincorporated areas of the state. The resolution is motivated by rapid growth in large‑load electricity customers and concerns that municipal franchise fees (collected under city franchise agreements for use of rights‑of‑way) are ultimately borne by customers located outside city limits. The committee is charged with recommending whether and how franchise fees or other tariffs should be applied to large‑load customers operating in unincorporated areas.

Key provisions

  • Creates the House Study Committee on Electric Franchise Fees for Unincorporated Areas.
  • Composition:
    • 7 members of the House of Representatives;
    • 2 county commissioners or county board chairpersons; and
    • 2 mayors or city council members.
    • All appointments made by the Speaker of the House; the Speaker designates the committee chair.
  • Powers and duties:
    • Study the conditions, needs, issues, and problems related to electric franchise fees and large‑load electricity customers in unincorporated areas.
    • Recommend any action or legislation the committee deems appropriate.
  • Meetings:
    • Called by the committee chair; may meet as necessary in locations and at times the committee deems convenient.
  • Compensation and funding:
    • Legislative members receive allowances under O.C.G.A. § 28‑1‑8; allowances limited to no more than five days unless additional days are authorized.
    • Funds to operate the committee come from amounts appropriated to the House of Representatives.
  • Reporting:
    • If the committee adopts findings or legislative recommendations, the chair must file a signed report with the Clerk of the House prior to abolishment.
    • Reports require majority approval of a quorum. In absence of an approved report, the chair may file committee minutes.
  • Sunset:
    • The committee is abolished on December 1, 2025.

Who is affected

  • State House members (committee participants) and local officials (county commissioners, mayors/council members) who will serve on the committee.
  • Municipal governments (which negotiate franchise agreements and receive franchise fee revenue).
  • Electric utilities (holders of franchise agreements and rights‑of‑way).
  • Electricity customers in both incorporated and unincorporated areas — especially large‑load customers (industrial/commercial) in unincorporated areas who may be the focus of any future fee/tariff changes.

Potential impact and next steps

This is a study (fact‑finding) body — it does not itself change law. The committee’s findings could lead to proposed legislation addressing allocation or assessment of franchise fees, restructuring how rights‑of‑way value is captured for counties, or measures to ensure large‑load customers in unincorporated areas contribute to local government costs. Any statutory changes would require subsequent legislation. The committee must complete work and file any reports by Dec. 1, 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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