HB 1029: Holly Springs, City of; revise boundaries

Holly Springs operates under a city charter that the Georgia General Assembly first approved in 1980. This bill updates that charter based on new census-block boundary descriptions attached as Appendix A (city limits) and Appendix B (four council districts). It restructures the city council to include a mayor, two at-large councilmembers, and four district-based councilmembers, up from the previous five-member council. The bill adds term limits barring more than 12 consecutive or 20 total years as mayor or councilmember, with a transition rule for current officeholders. It creates a new mayoral veto process for ordinances, giving the mayor ten days to act and the council power to override with four affirmative votes. Most provisions take effect upon the Governor's signature, but the parts needed for 2026 elections take effect immediately while remaining changes to council structure and boundaries wait until January 1, 2027.

• Redraws the city's official corporate boundaries using new census block descriptions listed in Appendix A of the bill.
• Expands the Holly Springs city council from five to six members: a mayor, two at-large members, and four district members.
• Creates term limits barring service beyond 12 consecutive years or 20 total years as mayor or councilmember, with a grandfather clause for sitting officials.
• Adds a new mayoral veto process for ordinances, letting the council override a veto with at least four affirmative votes.
• Redraws the four council district boundaries under Appendix B and sets transition rules for when each redrawn district's seat comes up for election.

Residents and property owners within Holly Springs' revised city limits, the mayor and city council members serving under the new structure and term limits, and voters in the four redrawn council districts who will elect representatives in 2026 and 2028.

The changes affect who represents which part of Holly Springs, how many votes it takes to pass an ordinance over a mayoral veto, and how long any one person can serve as mayor or councilmember, directly shaping local political power and representation in the city.

• Section 1 revises Section 1.02 to redefine the city's corporate boundaries per Appendix A, effective January 1, 2027.
• Section 2 revises Section 2.01 so the council includes a mayor, two at-large members, and four district members, up from five total seats.
• Section 3 revises Section 2.02 to impose a 12-consecutive-year or 20-cumulative-year term limit, with transition protection for current officeholders.
• Section 4 adds Section 2.09A creating a mayoral veto: the mayor has ten days to sign or veto, and the council can override with four affirmative votes.
• Section 5 revises Section 5.02 to redraw the four council districts under Appendix B and stagger elections between 2026 and 2028.
• Section 6 sets effective dates: election-related provisions of Sections 2 and 5 apply immediately upon approval, other provisions take effect January 1, 2027.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-06-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 641
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-20House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2026-02-17Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2026-02-17Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
8. 2026-02-03Senate Read and Referred (Senate)

• Brad Thomas (R, HD-021)Primary sponsor
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Don Parsons (R, HD-044)
• Bill Fincher (R, HD-023)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 2, 2026

   159 yea, 0 nay (11 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #466

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 17, 2026

   48 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #548

• local government
• city charters
• council redistricting
• term limits
• Cherokee County