HB 1367: Fulton County; appointment of a certain number of board members in the case of vacancies on the board; provide

Fulton County has a community improvement district created by a 1987 law and amended in 1998. That district's governing board normally elects members through a biennial caucus of property owners in the district. This bill changes what happens when a seat becomes vacant between elections. Under the bill, remaining board members can appoint someone to fill a vacancy within 60 days, but that appointed member only serves until the next regular election. The board can never have more than two appointed members at once. If a third vacancy would occur while two appointed members are already serving, the board must instead call a special election, generally within 60 days, with detailed public notice requirements including newspaper publication and mailed notice to property owners. The bill repeals conflicting laws and does not state a delayed effective date.

• Lets the Fulton County community improvement district board fill a vacant elected seat by majority vote of remaining members within 60 days.
• Limits an appointed board member's term to only until the next regularly scheduled election, no matter how much time remains in the original term.
• Caps the board at no more than two currently serving appointed members at any time.
• Requires a special election, instead of an appointment, if a vacancy occurs while two appointed members are already serving.
• Sets special election notice rules requiring publication in Fulton County's legal organ on four specific timelines and mailed notice to property owners at least 31 days before the election.

Property owners and electors within the Fulton County community improvement district affected by this law, the district's governing board members, and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, which oversees notices and district administration under the original 1987 and 1998 acts.

The change affects how much control appointed, rather than elected, board members can have over a local improvement district that likely makes decisions about taxes or spending within its boundaries. Capping appointments at two and requiring special elections beyond that keeps a majority of the board accountable to elections rather than internal appointment.

• Section 1 revises subsection (b) of Section 5 of the 1987 Act (as amended in 1998) governing board elections and vacancies.
• Vacancies can be filled by majority board vote within 60 days, but the appointee serves only until the next regular election.
• The board may never have more than two members serving who were appointed rather than elected.
• If a vacancy would create a third appointed member, a special election must be called, generally within 60 days of the vacancy, unless it falls within 180 days of a regular election.
• Special election notice must be published in Fulton County's legal organ four times, at 45, 31, 17, and 10 days before the election, plus mailed notice to electors at least 31 days beforehand.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 642
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-19Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-18House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Shea Roberts (D, HD-052)Primary sponsor
• Debra Bazemore (D, HD-069)
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)
• Park Cannon (D, HD-058)
• Michelle Au (D, HD-050)
• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 18, 2026

   161 yea, 2 nay (7 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #712

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #799

• Fulton County
• community improvement district
• local government boards
• special elections
• board vacancies