This legislation makes it unlawful to mutilate, deface, defile or abuse any publicly owned monument, plaque, statue, marker, flag, banner, structure, name, display or memorial (which is meant to be permanently displayed and is dedicated to a historical entity or historically significant military, religious, civil, civil rights, political, social or cultural event) that is located, erected, constructed, created or maintained on real property owned by local governments or the state of Georgia. SB 77 maintains current law, prohibiting local governments from removing these monuments from public property; however, local governments may relocate a monument when it is necessary for the construction, expansion or alteration of edifices, buildings, roads, streets or other transportation infrastructure, so long as it is relocated to a site of similar prominence (excluding a museum, cemetery or mausoleum, unless the monument was originally placed at such a location).  The bill also increases the penalties on those who damage, destroy or lose a monument (without replacing it).          

This preemption legislation, similar to HB 302, prohibits counties and cities from regulating "building design elements" in single or double family dwellings.  Local governments could no longer enact standards on:

- exterior building color,

- type or style of exterior cladding material, 

- style or materials of roof structures or porches, 

- exterior nonstructural architectural ornamentation, 

- location or architectural styling of windows and doors, including garage doors, 

- the number and types of rooms, and

- types of foundation structures approved under state minimum standard codes.   

In short, if a house meets state minimum standard building codes, it can be built.  Exceptions would apply if the dwellings are in state historic districts; are local, state or national historic landmarks; manufactured homes; or if regulations are adopted as a condition of participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.