HB 1579: Savannah, City of; change corporate limits

This bill amends the various past laws that define the corporate limits (official boundaries) of the City of Savannah. It adds three specific tracts of land in the 6th G.M. District of Chatham County to the city, described using detailed surveyor coordinates, boundary lines, and curves rather than street addresses. The three tracts, all near the intersection of Fergurson Avenue and Diamond Causeway and along Bethesda Avenue, cover about 4.83 acres, 37.32 acres, and 1.68 acres respectively, for a combined total of roughly 43.83 acres. Once enacted, this land would formally become part of Savannah rather than unincorporated Chatham County. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a specific future effective date beyond standard enactment.

• Extends the corporate limits of the City of Savannah to add three described tracts of land in Chatham County.
• Adds a 4.83-acre tract near the intersection of Fergurson Avenue and Diamond Causeway (Tract 1) to city limits.
• Adds a 37.32-acre tract in the same area (Tract 2) to city limits.
• Adds a 1.68-acre tract along Bethesda Avenue west of Diamond Causeway (Tract 3) to city limits.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new boundary description.

Residents, landowners, and any businesses located on the roughly 44 acres of land near Diamond Causeway and Bethesda Avenue in Chatham County, who would become part of the City of Savannah. It also affects Savannah's city government and Chatham County's unincorporated area boundaries.

Property brought into Savannah's city limits would become subject to city taxes, zoning rules, and services such as police and utilities, instead of Chatham County's unincorporated rules, changing which government has authority over that land and how it is governed day to day.

• Section 1 amends the prior Acts governing Savannah's corporate limits to extend the city boundary to include three named tracts.
• Tract 1 covers 4.83 acres near the Fergurson Avenue and Diamond Causeway intersection, defined by a detailed metes-and-bounds survey description.
• Tract 2 covers 37.32 acres in the same vicinity, also defined by a metes-and-bounds survey.
• Tract 3 covers 1.68 acres along the portion of Bethesda Avenue west of Diamond Causeway.
• Section 2 repeals any laws or parts of laws that conflict with this boundary change.

1. 2026-03-20House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-03-19House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-18House Hopper (House)

• Edna Jackson (D, HD-165)Primary sponsor
• Anne Westbrook (D, HD-163)
• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)

• city annexation
• Savannah city limits
• Chatham County
• local government boundaries