HB 1213: Mableton, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Under Georgia's constitution and the Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36), cities can use special tools like tax allocation districts and bonds to fund redevelopment projects, but only if the General Assembly passes a local law authorizing it. This bill would grant that authorization to the City of Mableton, allowing it to carry out community redevelopment, create tax allocation districts, and issue tax allocation bonds. The authorization would not take effect automatically. The bill requires Mableton's election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, asking voters to approve or reject the measure. If more than half of voters say yes, the redevelopment powers take effect immediately. If voters reject it or the election is not properly held, the authorization never takes effect and the entire Act is automatically repealed the following January 1.

• Authorizes the City of Mableton to use all powers under Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36), including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Requires a citywide referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026 before the authorization can take effect.
• Sets a ballot question asking voters to approve or reject Mableton's use of redevelopment powers.
• Automatically repeals the entire Act on the following January 1 if voters reject it or if the election is not properly conducted.
• Requires the election superintendent to publish notice of the election in Cobb County's official legal organ before the vote.

Residents and voters of the City of Mableton, who will decide the outcome in the referendum; city officials and the election superintendent, who must run the election; and any developers, property owners, or bondholders who might later participate in redevelopment projects funded through tax allocation districts.

If voters approve it, Mableton could use tax allocation financing, a tool that lets a city redirect future property tax growth in a designated area toward funding redevelopment, potentially spurring development without raising general tax rates. If voters reject it, the city gains no new powers and the law disappears.

• Section 1 authorizes Mableton to exercise all redevelopment powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law and the related constitutional provision, including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Section 2 requires a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, with notice published in Cobb County's official legal organ, and specifies the exact ballot wording voters will see.
• Section 2 states that if voters approve by more than half the votes cast, the authorization takes effect immediately; if not approved or the election is not properly held, the Act is automatically repealed the following January 1.
• Section 3 sets the effective date, apart from Section 2's referendum, as the date the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without signature.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 551
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-03Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-20House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Terry Cummings (D, HD-039)Primary sponsor
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)
• Michael Smith (D, HD-041)
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• Solomon Adesanya (D, HD-043)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 20, 2026

   162 yea, 0 nay (9 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #537

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 3, 2026

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #600

• Mableton
• redevelopment powers
• tax allocation districts
• local referendum
• Cobb County