HB 1535: Sandy Springs, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

This bill authorizes the City of Sandy Springs to use all the powers granted under Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36), a state law that lets cities pursue community redevelopment projects, create special tax allocation districts, and issue tax allocation bonds to fund improvements in those districts. The authorization does not take effect automatically. The bill requires Sandy Springs' election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, asking voters to approve or reject the city's use of these redevelopment powers. If more than half of the votes cast favor approval, the authorization becomes effective immediately. If voters reject it, or if the election is not properly held, the authorization never takes effect and the bill is automatically repealed on the following January 1. The notice of the election must be published in Fulton County's official legal organ, and Sandy Springs must pay the cost of holding the election.

• Authorizes the City of Sandy Springs to exercise all powers under Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law, including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Requires a citywide referendum in Sandy Springs on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026 to approve or reject the authorization.
• Sets the ballot language voters will see, asking whether to approve the city exercising redevelopment powers.
• Makes the authorization take effect immediately only if more than half of votes cast favor approval.
• Automatically repeals the authorization on the following January 1 if voters reject it or if the election is not properly conducted.
• Requires the city to pay for the election and requires the election superintendent to certify results to the Secretary of State.

Sandy Springs residents and registered voters, who will decide the referendum; the Sandy Springs city government, which would gain redevelopment authority; the election superintendent and Fulton County's official legal organ, which handle the vote and public notice; and any future developers or bondholders involved in tax allocation districts the city might create.

If voters approve it, Sandy Springs could designate areas for redevelopment, capture future property tax growth in those areas to pay for improvements, and issue bonds backed by that revenue. Without voter approval, the city gains no new authority and the law is automatically repealed.

• Section 1 authorizes Sandy Springs to exercise all powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44, Title 36), including creating tax allocation districts and issuing bonds.
• Section 2 requires a referendum on November 3, 2026 (the Tuesday after the first Monday in November), sets the exact ballot wording, and requires public notice in Fulton County's official legal organ starting 90 days before the election.
• Section 2 provides that the authorization takes effect immediately if a majority of votes cast favor approval, and automatically repeals the entire Act on the following January 1 if voters reject it or the election is not properly held.
• Section 2 assigns the cost of the election to the City of Sandy Springs and requires the election superintendent to certify results to the Secretary of State.
• Section 3 sets the bill's general effective date as upon the Governor's approval or becoming law without signature, except as modified by the referendum outcome in Section 2.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 582
3. 2026-05-11House 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)

• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)Primary sponsor
• Esther Panitch (D, HD-051)
• Betsy Holland (D, HD-054)
• Shea Roberts (D, HD-052)

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

• Sandy Springs
• redevelopment powers
• tax allocation districts
• local referendum
• Fulton County