--- title: HB 1517. Nuisances; presumption of the creation of a nuisance based on certain residential local ordinance violations; provide collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb1517 cite_as: HB 1517, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1517 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1517.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1517/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73927 date: 2026-03-10 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1516.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1518.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 132 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1517.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 1517 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2026-03-06 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Marvin Lim text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1517/2025 upstream_id: 2130693 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - property nuisance law - code enforcement - property tax collection - Medicaid estate recovery - corporate filings --- # HB 1517. Nuisances; presumption of the creation of a nuisance based on certain residential local ordinance violations; provide ## Text House Bill 1517 By: Representative Lim of the 98th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 1 of Title 41 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding nuisances, so as to provide for a presumption of the creation of a nuisance based on certain residential local ordinance violations; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem taxation of property generally, so as to provide criminal penalties for the failure of a tax receiver or tax commissioner to collect certain delinquent taxes; to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to require that, for an estate containing residential real property, the commissioner of community health waive any claim against the greater of the first $25,000.00 of such estate or 50 percent of the median home value within the county where certain residential real property of such estate is located; to provide for the submission of an amendment to the state plan; to provide for contingent repeal; to amend Chapter 2 of Title 14 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to business corporations, so as to require corporations to provide a list of authorized filers to the Secretary of State; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Chapter 1 of Title 41 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding nuisances, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "41-1-4.1. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'County or municipal codes and ordinances' means zoning ordinances and resolutions, ordinances and resolutions enacting subdivision regulations, environmental ordinances and resolutions, state minimum standard codes provided for in Code Section 8-2-25, ordinances and resolutions enacted pursuant to Code Section 8-2-25, other ordinances and resolutions regulating the development of real property, and ordinances and regulations providing for control of litter and debris, control of junked or abandoned vehicles, and control of overgrown vegetation. (2) 'Residential property' means any single-family, two-family, three-family, and four-family residential real estate in this state. (3) 'Violations involving the health or safety of persons' means any violation of county or municipal codes or ordinances that creates a legitimate concern for the health and safety of an occupant of a residential property or that creates an immediate and substantial danger to the environment. (b) A defendant under Code Section 41-1-3 or 41-1-4 shall be conclusively presumed to have created a nuisance for the purposes of this chapter under the following circumstances: (1) He or she has been found guilty of or pled guilty to at least five violations involving the health or safety of persons during any two-year time period; and (2) All such violations occurred on residential property." SECTION 2. Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem taxation of property generally, is amended by revising Code Section 48-5-22, relating to penalty for failing to have returned for taxation and to collect taxes on property unlawfully exempted, as follows: "48-5-22. (a) It shall be unlawful for any tax receiver or tax commissioner to fail to: (1) Have returned for taxation all property required by law to be returned for taxation pursuant to Code Section 48-5-21; or (2) Collect taxes assessed on all property pursuant to Code Section 48-5-21. (b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, however, that any person who violates paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a felony where the taxes due, payable, and delinquent for a parcel of property exceeds $150,000.00." SECTION 3. Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, is amended by revising Code Section 49-4-147.1, relating to claims by department against the estate of Medicaid recipients, as follows: "49-4-147.1. (a) In accordance with applicable federal law and regulations, including those under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, the department may make claim against the estate of a Medicaid recipient for the amount of any medical assistance payments made on such person's behalf by the department. A claim shall be made against the estate of a deceased Medicaid recipient only if at the time of application for medical assistance the applicant received written notice that the medical assistance costs could be recovered from the applicant's estate and the applicant signed a written acknowledgment of receipt of such notice, the estate is otherwise subject to recovery, and if no hardship or other exemption exists. The commissioner shall waive such claim if he or she determines enforcement of the claim would result in substantial and unreasonable hardship to dependents of the individual against whose estate the claim exists. (b) The estate recovery program established pursuant to this Code section shall not be effective any earlier than May 3, 2006. In no event shall the department make claims against the estate of a Medicaid recipient for the amount of any medical assistance payments made on such person's behalf prior to May 3, 2006. (c) The commissioner shall delay execution of a claim against the estate where the dependents or heirs agree to pay the full amount of the claim in reasonable installments. (d) To prevent substantial and unreasonable hardship, the commissioner shall waive any claim against the first $25,000.00 of any estate. No later than July 1, 2018, the department shall submit to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services an amendment to the state plan reflecting the provisions of this subsection. In the event that such amendment to the state plan is not approved, this subsection shall stand repealed in its entirety. (e)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this Code section, on and after January 1, 2027, for any estate that includes residential real property, the commissioner shall waive any claim against the greater of the first $25,000.00 of the estate or 50 percent of the median home value within the county where the residential real property is located; provided, however, that, if the estate includes more than one residential real property, any determination of median home value shall be based on the residential real property with the highest property valuation, as determined by the county board of tax assessors in accordance with Code Section 48-5-299. To determine the median home value within a county, the commissioner may utilize the most recent American Community Survey as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor or any other similar source, if the commissioner determines that such source fairly reflects the median home value of counties within this state. (2) The county board of tax assessors shall cooperate with the commissioner in his or her efforts to perform his or her duties under this subsection. (3) Not later than August 1, 2026, the department shall submit to the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services an amendment to the state plan reflecting the provisions of this subsection. In the event that such amendment is not approved, this subsection shall stand repealed in its entirety." SECTION 4. Chapter 2 of Title 14 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to business corporations, is amended by revising Code Section 14-2-120, relating to filing requirements, as follows: "14-2-120. (a) A document must shall satisfy the requirements of this Code section and of any other Code section that adds to or varies these requirements to be entitled to filing by the Secretary of State. (b) This chapter must shall require or permit filing the document in the office of the Secretary of State. (c) The document must shall contain the information required by this chapter. It may contain other information as well. (d) The document must shall be typewritten or printed. (e) The document must shall be in the English language. A corporate name need not be in English if written in English letters or Arabic or Roman numerals, and the certificate of existence required of foreign corporations need not be in English if accompanied by a reasonably authenticated English translation. (f) Prior to filing a document with the Secretary of State, a corporation shall provide a list of authorized persons who may execute and file documents under this chapter. (f)(g) The document must shall be executed: (1) By the chairperson of the board of directors of a domestic or foreign corporation, by its president, or by another of its officers; (2) If directors have not been selected or the corporation has not been formed, by an incorporator; or (3) If the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court appointed fiduciary, by that fiduciary; or (4) An authorized person; provided, however, that the person executing the document may do so as an attorney in fact. Powers of attorney relating to the execution of the document do not need to be shown to or filed with the Secretary of State. (g)(h) The person executing the document shall sign it and state beneath or opposite his or her signature his or her name and the capacity in which he or she signs; provided, however, that, if the document is electronically transmitted, the electronic version of such person's name may be used in lieu of a signature. The document may but need not contain: (1) The corporate seal; (2) An attestation by the secretary or an assistant secretary; or (3) An acknowledgment, verification, or proof. (h)(i) The document must shall be delivered to the office of the Secretary of State for filing and must shall be accompanied by one exact or conformed copy (except as provided in Code Sections 14-2-503 and 14-2-1509), the correct filing fee, any certificate required by Code Section 14-2-201.1, 14-2-1006.1, 14-2-1105.1, or 14-2-1403.1, and any penalty required by this chapter or other law. (i)(j) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the Secretary of State may authorize the filing of documents by electronic transmission, following the provisions of Chapter 12 of Title 10, the 'Uniform Electronic Transactions Act,' and the Secretary of State shall be authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement electronic filing procedures." SECTION 5. Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 14-2-140, relating to definitions, by adding a new paragraph to read as follows: "(1.1) 'Authorized person' means a person who is authorized by a corporation to execute and file documents under this chapter on behalf of the corporation." SECTION 6. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House bill would let repeated code violations on a home count as legal proof of a nuisance, add felony penalties for tax officials who skip collecting large delinquent tax bills, expand Medicaid estate recovery protections for heirs' homes, and require corporations to list who can file paperwork with the Secretary of State. ### Plain-language summary This bill bundles four unrelated changes to Georgia law. First, it creates a new rule (O.C.G.A. § 41-1-4.1) saying that if a residential property owner is convicted of or pleads guilty to five or more health or safety code violations, such as junk, overgrown vegetation, or dangerous conditions, within a two year period, the property is automatically considered a legal nuisance. Second, it amends O.C.G.A. § 48-5-22 so a tax receiver or tax commissioner who fails to collect delinquent property taxes on a parcel can be charged with a felony, not just a misdemeanor, if the unpaid taxes exceed $150,000. Third, it changes Georgia's Medicaid estate recovery law (O.C.G.A. § 49-4-147.1) so that starting January 1, 2027, the state must protect a larger share of a deceased Medicaid recipient's home value from repayment claims, using whichever is greater: $25,000 or half the county's median home value. This depends on federal approval of a state plan amendment by August 1, 2026. Fourth, it requires corporations to give the Secretary of State a list of people authorized to file documents on the corporation's behalf before filing, and defines the term 'authorized person.' ### What it does - Creates a new Georgia law making five or more health or safety code violations on a residential property within two years automatic legal proof of a nuisance. - Raises the penalty for a tax receiver or tax commissioner who fails to collect delinquent property taxes from a misdemeanor to a felony when unpaid taxes on a parcel exceed $150,000. - Expands the amount of a deceased Medicaid recipient's estate protected from state repayment claims when the estate includes a home, using the greater of $25,000 or half the county's median home value. - Requires the state to submit this Medicaid estate recovery change to federal regulators by August 1, 2026, and automatically repeals it if federal approval is denied. - Requires corporations to submit a list of people authorized to file documents with the Georgia Secretary of State before those filings are accepted. - Adds a legal definition of 'authorized person' to Georgia's business corporation code. ### Who it affects Owners of single-family to four-family homes facing repeated code enforcement citations; county tax receivers and tax commissioners; heirs and dependents of deceased Medicaid recipients whose estates include a home; the Department of Community Health; county boards of tax assessors; and corporations that file documents with the Georgia Secretary of State. ### Why it matters Homeowners with repeated code violations could face nuisance findings more easily, tax officials risk felony charges for not collecting large delinquent tax bills, families inheriting a Medicaid recipient's home could keep more of its value, and corporations would face a new paperwork step before filing with the state. ### Key provisions - Section 1 adds Code Section 41-1-4.1, defining 'violations involving health or safety' and creating a conclusive presumption of nuisance after five such violations on residential property within two years. - Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 48-5-22 to make failing to collect delinquent taxes a felony when the unpaid amount on a parcel exceeds $150,000, up from a misdemeanor. - Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 49-4-147.1 to protect the greater of $25,000 or 50 percent of county median home value from Medicaid estate recovery claims starting January 1, 2027, contingent on federal approval by August 1, 2026, with automatic repeal if denied. - Section 3 directs the commissioner to use median home value from American Community Survey data or a similar source and requires county tax assessors to cooperate. - Section 4 amends O.C.G.A. § 14-2-120 to require corporations to submit a list of authorized filers to the Secretary of State before filing documents and adds 'authorized person' as a way documents can be executed. - Section 5 adds a definition of 'authorized person' to O.C.G.A. § 14-2-140. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-03-06) - Last action: House Second Readers (2026-03-10) - Sponsors: Marvin Lim - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73927 > The history, votes, and amendments (132 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1517.md?full=1