HB766: HB766 Sumter-Americus Unification Commission Act; enact

Sumter County currently has separate governments for the county and its municipalities, including Americus and four smaller cities. This bill would establish a six-member commission, with the county commission chair, the Americus mayor, and representatives of two local development groups as core members, plus two at-large business members, to study whether these governments should merge into a single county-wide government. The cities of Andersonville, De Soto, Leslie, and Plains could join as non-voting members within 30 days of the law taking effect. The commission would have subpoena power, could hire staff, and would be funded initially by up to $20,000 each from Americus and Sumter County, split further among any joining cities. If the commission decides unification is worthwhile, it would draft a charter creating a new government, which voters in Sumter County and Americus (and any joining cities) would have to approve in separate referendums. The commission must finish its work by August 31, 2027, unless extended, and the law would take effect once signed by the Governor.

• Creates the Sumter-Americus Unification Commission with six core members and lets four smaller cities join as non-voting members within 30 days of the law taking effect.
• Authorizes the commission to study consolidating the governments of Sumter County, Americus, and any joining cities into one county-wide government.
• Requires Americus and Sumter County to each initially fund up to $20,000 for the commission's expenses, shared proportionally if more cities join.
• Gives the commission subpoena power similar to superior courts to compel testimony and document production from officials and witnesses.
• Sets an August 31, 2027 deadline for the commission to complete its study and file any proposed charter, extendable by local resolution or legislative act.
• Requires any proposed charter to be approved separately by voters in Americus and county-wide, and by voters in each joining city, before taking effect.

Residents and voters of Sumter County and the City of Americus, and potentially the cities of Andersonville, De Soto, Leslie, and Plains if they join the commission; local elected officials including the Sumter County Board of Commissioners and the Americus mayor and council; county employees and public offices such as the sheriff, clerk of superior court, and tax commissioner.

If the study leads to a merged government and voters approve it, day-to-day local governance in Sumter County could change significantly, potentially eliminating separate city and county governments and consolidating services, taxes, and public offices into one entity, while the commission's work and any referendum would determine whether and how that happens.

• Section 3 establishes the six-member commission, including the county commission chair, Americus mayor, and development authority leaders, plus two at-large business appointees.
• Section 3 allows the cities of Andersonville, De Soto, Leslie, and Plains to join as non-voting ex officio members within 30 days of the effective date.
• Section 4 sets up the organizational meeting, election of a chairperson, and initial funding of up to $20,000 each from Americus and Sumter County.
• Section 5 authorizes the commission to study consolidating governments and to draft a charter if it finds unification beneficial.
• Section 6 lists mandatory and optional charter provisions, including creation of a new governing authority and protections for the Sumter County School District, pension rights, and certain elected offices.
• Section 8 sets an August 31, 2027 deadline for completing the charter, extendable by local or legislative action.
• Section 10 details the separate referendum requirements and ballot language for Sumter County, Americus, and any participating cities.
• Section 12 states the Act takes effect upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without such approval.

1. 2025-03-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-03-25House Passed/Adopted (House)
3. 2025-03-25House Third Readers (House)
4. 2025-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2025-03-18House Second Readers (House)
6. 2025-03-13House First Readers (House)
7. 2025-03-11House Hopper (House)

• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2025

   170 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 4 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #302

• local government consolidation
• Sumter County
• Americus
• county charter
• government reorganization