HB521: HB521 Local government; deannexation of certain properties; revise procedures

Under current Georgia law, cities annexing land into their borders must file detailed reports with the Department of Community Affairs and the Legislature's reapportionment office, but deannexation (removing land from city limits) is not treated the same way. This bill rewrites O.C.G.A. § 36-36-3 so that reports on annexed and deannexed property, filed by the city clerk, city attorney, or another designated official, must include the same details (legal authority, acreage, dates, roadway lists, and digital shapefiles) and go to the county government as well as the state. The bill also adds new county-consent requirements. Under a revised § 36-36-21, certain annexations near specific large airports, in certain heavily municipalized counties, and near a large military installation with county-run broadband utilities cannot happen unless the county governing authority adopts a resolution agreeing to them. A revised § 36-36-131 caps most deannexations at ten parcels per action and requires county consent before a deannexation can proceed, while setting a 90 day approval deadline when the county itself owns the property being deannexed. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Requires municipalities to file the same detailed report for deannexations that they already file for annexations, including acreage, dates, roadway lists, and a digital shapefile.
• Sends copies of annexation and deannexation reports to the county governing authority where the property sits, not just to state offices.
• Limits deannexations to no more than ten parcels of property in a single action.
• Requires county government consent by resolution before a deannexation can be approved, with a 90 day approval deadline when the county owns all the parcels involved.
• Makes certain annexations near large airports, in specified heavily municipalized counties, or near a major military base contingent on county consent.
• Keeps the existing rule that late paperwork does not by itself block an otherwise valid annexation or deannexation from taking effect.

Georgia municipal governments and their clerks, city attorneys, and other officials who file annexation paperwork; county governing authorities, which gain new consent powers and receive more reports; property owners seeking annexation or deannexation; and the Department of Community Affairs and the Legislature's reapportionment office, which process the reports.

Property owners and cities involved in boundary changes would face added paperwork and, in many cases, a new requirement to get county government sign-off before land can be removed from or added to a municipality, giving counties more say over where city lines fall.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 36-36-3 to require identical reporting content and recipients (state agencies and the county) for both annexations and deannexations, including acreage, dates, roadway lists, and digital shapefiles.
• Section 1 keeps the rule that the Department of Community Affairs cannot certify an annexation or deannexation to the U.S. Census Bureau until a complete report is filed.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 36-36-21 to make certain annexations near large airports, in specified heavily municipalized counties, and near a major military garrison contingent on a county consent resolution.
• Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 36-36-131(a) to cap deannexations at ten parcels per action and require county consent before a municipality can approve a deannexation application.
• Section 3 sets a 90 day deadline for municipal approval of a deannexation when the county owns all parcels being deannexed and has consented.
• Section 4 makes the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.
• Section 5 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-31Senate Tabled (Senate)
2. 2026-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
3. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
4. 2026-03-16Senate Recommitted (Senate)
5. 2026-03-16Senate Third Read (Senate)
6. 2026-02-19Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2026-02-18Senate Recommitted (Senate)
8. 2026-02-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Victor Anderson (R, HD-010)Primary sponsor
• John LaHood (R, HD-175)
• Rob Leverett (R, HD-123)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 6, 2025

   165 yea, 10 nay (4 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #231

• annexation and deannexation
• local government boundaries
• county consent
• municipal law
• city-county relations