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Stephens County board to hold three public hearings on whether to opt out of House Bill 581
Summary
Board members agreed to schedule the three public hearings required by state law for a county opt-out of House Bill 581 and to publish the required legal notice while seeking more data on the bill's fiscal effects.
Stephens County commissioners agreed at a called meeting to schedule the three public hearings required if the county chooses to opt out of House Bill 581, and staff said they will prepare the required legal notices and documentation.
"Tonight, the board will be discussing, House Bill 5 81 and the, potential ramifications as well as benefits of this bill," county staff member Mr. Hamilton told the board when the new business item was introduced. County legal and administrative staff explained that, under the law, counties and municipalities are automatically opted in by March 1 and that "there must be 3 public hearings scheduled prior to March 1, as well as a legal notice in the newspaper" if the county wants to opt out.
Board members and staff discussed the compressed timeline. Staff said hearings could begin Jan. 28 if calendar and notice deadlines are met; one staff member advised the notice would need to run in the paper a week before the first hearing. "We will have to schedule all 3 of the public hearings," a staff member said during the meeting, noting legal notice and advertisement timing constrain the county's options.
The board did not take a final vote on an opt-out resolution at the meeting. Commissioners directed staff to place all three hearings on the calendar and to seek additional data from state legislative staff and the county finance director to inform any later decision.
