HB396: HB396 Acworth, City of; adopt by reference a certain map

The City of Acworth's charter requires an official map or written description of the city's boundaries to be kept on file with the city clerk. This bill updates that section of the charter to formally adopt a new map, dated December 19, 2024 and prepared by the Acworth City Clerk, as the city's official record of its corporate limits. The bill states that the city's boundaries as of January 1, 2025 will be reflected on this newly adopted map. The map remains subject to future changes through local law or general state law, and certified copies of it can be used as evidence in court. The bill also repeals any prior laws that conflict with this update.

• Revises Section 1.11(a) of the City of Acworth's charter to adopt a specific new boundary map dated December 19, 2024 as the official record.
• States that the city's boundaries as of January 1, 2025 will be shown on this newly adopted official map.
• Confirms that certified copies of the map or description can be used as evidence in court with the same legal weight as the original.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this update to the charter.

This bill mainly affects the City of Acworth's government, particularly the city clerk's office, which maintains the official boundary records. It could also matter to Acworth residents, property owners, and businesses near the city's edges whose properties depend on accurate boundary lines.

Official boundary maps determine which properties fall under Acworth's city government, taxes, and services versus unincorporated Cobb County. Updating and formally adopting a current map helps ensure the city's legal boundary records are accurate and usable as evidence in disputes over jurisdiction.

• Section 1 amends Section 1.11(a) of the Acworth charter (originally from Ga. L. 1989, p. 3512, as amended by Ga. L. 2024, p. 4039) to adopt the December 19, 2024 map as the official boundary map.
• Section 1 specifies that the city's corporate boundaries as of January 1, 2025 will be reflected on this map.
• Section 1 preserves the existing rule that certified copies of the map or description are valid evidence in court.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 140
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-02-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-02-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-02-21House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)Primary sponsor
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• Ginny Ehrhart (R, HD-036)
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Mary Williams (D, HD-037)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 21, 2025

   170 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #58

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 27, 2025

   48 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #98

• Acworth city charter
• city boundaries
• local government maps
• Cobb County