HB 1555: Fort Valley, City of; deannex certain territory

This bill amends the 1907 charter of the City of Fort Valley, Georgia. It removes ('deannexes') the right-of-way of State Route 96 east of a specific coordinate point, along with any portion of Houser's Mill Road, from the city's official boundaries. The bill also changes the section of the charter governing the city's utility commission. It keeps existing rules letting the commission buy, sell, lease, or trade real or personal property tied to the utility system, but adds a new requirement: the city must transfer title of any such property to the commission whenever the commission passes a resolution asking for it. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not state a delayed effective date beyond normal enactment.

• Removes the right-of-way of State Route 96 east of a named coordinate point, and part of Houser's Mill Road, from Fort Valley's city limits.
• Adds a new charter section (1B) stating this deannexed land is excluded from the corporate limits regardless of other charter provisions.
• Requires the city to transfer title of utility-related real or personal property to the utility commission whenever the commission adopts a resolution requesting it.
• Preserves the commission's existing authority to buy, sell, lease, trade, or otherwise manage property tied to the utility system, as long as any debt on it is satisfied.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with these changes.

Residents and property owners along the affected stretch of State Route 96 and Houser's Mill Road, who would no longer be within Fort Valley's city limits; the City of Fort Valley government; and the city's utility commission, which gains a stronger legal claim on utility-related property.

People living or owning property in the deannexed area would shift out of the city's jurisdiction, potentially changing which local government provides services, taxes, or regulates them. The utility commission would also gain a clearer legal path to obtain title to property tied to its operations whenever it formally requests it.

• Section 1 adds new charter Section 1B, removing the State Route 96 right-of-way east of coordinates 32.554019, -83.865025, and part of Houser's Mill Road, from city limits.
• Section 2 revises Section 1.1(f) of the charter, keeping the commission's power to buy, sell, lease, and trade utility-related property under conditions that satisfy existing debt.
• Section 2 adds a requirement that the city must transfer title of utility-related property to the commission once the commission adopts a resolution requesting the transfer.
• Section 2 preserves protections for existing debt obligations and covenants tied to utility property or revenues predating this change.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 644
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House 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)

• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)Primary sponsor
• Patty Stinson (D, HD-150)

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 boundaries
• Fort Valley
• local government charter
• utility commission
• annexation and deannexation