Each year, Savannah City Council adopts a state legislative agenda to prioritize items that require legislative action and attention during the Georgia Legislative Session. Savannah’s Legislative Agenda serves as a roadmap for which items we encourage our State Legislative Delegation to work toward accomplishing each year. The agenda assists with focusing our resources and efforts into accomplishing and advancing items important to municipal operations and improving our community.

The City's Legislative Agenda is formulated through three primary inputs. First input is the priorities and feedback directly from City Council members. Second is input from City staff regarding state laws or policies that impact City services or quality of life issues for Savannah residents, and third is consultation with Georgia Municipal Association about upcoming threats and opportunities. 

The agenda is formulated into two categories: Specific Legislative Priorities and Policy Positions. Specific Priorities are focused items which need attention or action. Policy positions state the position of the City Council on an issue and allow for quick action on topics or opportunities that may arise within that area of interest.

2025 Specific Legislative Priorities:

• Support and advocate for local infrastructure investments to meet the growing service demands for our city and region, including support for the implementation of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Coastal Empire Transportation Study.
• Improvement of contempt of court fee process to properly incentivize defendants to attend court or reschedule to better maximum the efficiency of the court and protect taxpayer’s resources
• Allow municipalities to charge the capital cost associated with providing water and sewer services to existing parcels that request new and expanded use which are proportionate to the amount of services they receive
• Support the increase of Recorder Court’s technology fee to support technology improvements which will make the court more accessible and efficient
• Support funding for Georgia's Childcare and Parent Services Program (CAPS)
• Allow municipalities to exempt development impact fees (DIF) for the construction of workforce and affordable housing to keep housing development costs low
• Expand the allowable uses of SPLOST funds to support the retention, improvement, construction, and development of affordable and workforce housing as defined by the local governments through loans and other financial mechanisms
• Support clarity to Taxpayer Bill of Rights, Advertisement, and Public Notice
• Support Tort Reform to prevent frivolous lawsuits and lower the unlimited legal exposure of Georgia’s municipal taxpayers similar to the legal protection of Georgia’s Counties
• Explore the state definition of ‘Blighted Property’ to improve the process for converting abandoned, blighted properties into new housing that aids in reducing crime and improves the conditions and quality of life in neighborhoods
• Support the addition of City of Savannah representation on the Chatham County Urban Development Authority

2025 Policy Positions:

• Support State efforts to help those experiencing homelessness that algin with Savannah Chatham County Interagency Council on Homelessness’s Five-Year Strategic Plan to End Homelessness.
• Support Georgia’s position as a Home Rule State which allows local individuals to self-govern and determine which solutions best match the communities in which they live.
• Support expansion of Georgia’s Low-Income Tax Credit Program.
• Support funding for a mixed-delivery childcare system inclduing public, private, and license-exempt programs
• Support Home Rule regulation of zoning, design standards, and short-term rentals.
• Support efforts to remove sales taxes on feminine hygiene products.
• Support Sustainability initiatives and policies that align with Savannah’s 100% Clean Energy Resolution.

Approval