HB 1536: Eatonton, City of; provide a new charter

This bill replaces the existing 1908 charter for the City of Eatonton in Putnam County with an entirely new charter. It reincorporates the city, restates its boundaries as a 2.5 mile radius circle centered on the courthouse square, and lists broad general powers the city may exercise, from zoning and utilities to alcohol licensing and eminent domain. The charter creates a city council of a mayor and seven councilmembers, divides the city into four wards for election purposes, and sets four year terms, residency and age requirements, and conflict of interest rules. It establishes offices for a city administrator, city attorney, city clerk, and a municipal court with a chief judge, and lays out detailed rules for elections, removal of officers, taxation, budgeting, borrowing, and property sales. The new charter takes effect July 1, 2026, and repeals the city's 1908 charter and all its amendments.

• Reincorporates the City of Eatonton under a new charter and restates its boundaries as a 2.5 mile radius circle centered on the courthouse square.
• Creates a seven member city council elected from four wards plus combined-ward and at-large seats, each serving four year terms.
• Establishes a city administrator position responsible for day to day management, hiring, budgeting, and contract oversight, separate from the mayor and council.
• Creates a municipal court with a chief judge who can fine offenders up to $1,000 or jail them up to 180 days for ordinance violations.
• Sets rules for property taxes, franchises, bonds, budgeting, and procurement, including a 35 year cap on franchise grants.
• Repeals the city's original 1908 charter and all amendments to it, effective July 1, 2026.

Eatonton residents and voters, the mayor and city council, city employees and appointed officers like the city administrator, city attorney, and city clerk, the municipal court and its judge, and businesses or utility companies operating under city franchises, permits, or taxes.

The new charter changes how Eatonton is governed day to day, dividing council elections into four wards plus combined and at-large seats, creating a professional city administrator role, and updating rules for taxes, budgets, bonds, and court penalties, replacing a charter that dated back to 1908.

• Section 1.2 sets the city's boundaries as a 12,566.36 acre circle with a 2.5 mile radius centered on the courthouse square.
• Section 2.1-2.2 creates a seven member council (four ward seats, two combined-ward seats, one at-large seat) with four year terms and residency requirements.
• Section 2.19 outlines mayoral powers including presiding over meetings, pardoning ordinance offenders, and overseeing city employees.
• Section 2.20-2.24 creates a city administrator position responsible for hiring, budgeting, contracts, and daily operations.
• Article IV creates the Municipal Court of Eatonton and sets penalties up to $1,000 in fines or 180 days in jail for ordinance violations.
• Article VI sets rules for property taxes, franchises (capped at 35 years), bonds, budgeting, and procurement.
• Section 7.7 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026.
• Section 8.1 repeals the city's 1908 incorporating charter and all its amendments.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 583
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-23House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Trey Rhodes (R, HD-124)Primary sponsor
• Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 23, 2026

   158 yea, 0 nay (12 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #739

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #825

• city charters
• local government
• Eatonton
• Putnam County
• municipal elections