Summary — HJ 47: Study resolution on local government entity cooperation
Status: Joint resolution — Filed with Secretary of State (May 6, 2025)
Introduced: January 31, 2025
Primary sponsor: Rep. Steve Gist
Subject areas: Local government (cities, towns, counties), emergency & disaster services, fire protection, interim study
Purpose / Intent
HJ 47 is a legislative study resolution directing an interim review of cooperation among local government entities. The resolution seeks to identify barriers and opportunities for more effective collaboration among municipalities, counties, fire districts and other local public safety providers — particularly as they relate to emergency response, fire protection, mutual aid, shared services, and related administrative/financial arrangements.
Key provisions (summary of typical/likely contents)
- Establishes an interim study (by a committee, task force, or through legislative staff) to examine existing cooperative structures among local governments and public safety entities.
- Directs examination of topics such as:
- Mutual aid agreements and regional emergency response frameworks
- Shared services (dispatch, equipment, training, administration)
- Financial arrangements, cost‑sharing, and potential efficiencies
- Legal, regulatory or statutory impediments to consolidation or cooperation
- Liability, insurance, and governance issues that affect interlocal collaboration
- Opportunities for legislative or administrative changes to improve outcomes
- Requests analysis from the Office of Legislative Research (OLR) and the Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA) (referral to these offices noted in legislative actions).
- Typically, such resolutions call for a written report and recommendations to the General Assembly by a specified date (consult the resolution text for any exact reporting deadline).
Note: The full text of HJ 47 should be consulted for precise membership, duties, and any reporting deadlines or funding provisions; the summary above reflects the resolution’s stated study purpose and the common components of similar interim-study resolutions.
Who would be affected
- Cities and towns, counties, fire departments/districts, emergency medical services, regional dispatch centers and other local public-safety entities.
- Local taxpayers and residents could be indirectly affected by any future policy changes or consolidation measures that result from the study’s recommendations.
Procedural timeline & current status
Key legislative actions:
- Introduced Jan 31, 2025; referred to Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections
- Public hearing Feb 7, 2025; Joint Favorable report Feb 28, 2025
- Passed House (3/23/2025), transmitted to Senate; passed Senate (4/30/2025)
- Signed by Speaker (May 5, 2025) and President (May 6, 2025); filed with Secretary of State (May 6, 2025)
- Referred to OLR and OFA for study-related work (3/11/2025 referral)
Related bill: LC 2299 (listed as replaced by HJ 47)
Potential impact
The study could produce recommendations that lead to future statutory changes encouraging regionalization, shared services, or changes to funding/authority for emergency services and fire protection. Short-term impacts are primarily informational; policy effects would depend on whether the General Assembly acts on the study’s recommendations.
Next steps / Where to find more
- Consult the enacted text and any committee report for specifics (Legislative Commission/Drafting Office, LCO).
- Contact Rep. Steve Gist or the Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections for meeting materials, reports, or the final study product.
