--- title: HB 486. State government; City of Incheon, South Korea as sister city-state of the State of Georgia; designate collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb486 cite_as: HB 486, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb486 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb486.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb486/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70410 date: 2025-04-04 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 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/hb485.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb487.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 235 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb486.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 486 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-02-18 last_action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted sponsors: - Soo Hong - William Werkheiser - Lehman Franklin - Ron Stephens - Samuel Park - Matt Reeves text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB486/2025 upstream_id: 1974371 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - sister city - international relations - South Korea - state government - cultural exchange --- # HB 486. State government; City of Incheon, South Korea as sister city-state of the State of Georgia; designate ## Text 25 LC 44 3048 House Bill 486 By: Representatives Hong of the 103 rd, Werkheiser of the 157 th, Franklin of the 160 th, Stephens of the 164th, Park of the 107th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 general provisions regarding state government, so as to designate the City of Incheon, South2 Korea as the sister city-state of the State of Georgia; to prov ide legislative findings and3 declarations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5 SECTION 1.6 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:7 (1) As of February 2020, Incheon was home to approximately 3 m illion residents,8 making it the third most populous city in South Korea, following Seoul and Busan;9 (2) Incheon is a major port city, serving as a crucial hub for international trade and10 maritime commerce as well as the home to Incheon International Airport, one of the11 busiest and most advanced airports in the world;12 (3) Incheon has been designated as an "English City" and has implemented the "Incheon13 Free English Zone" initiative, emphasizing global communication and education;14 (4) Incheon has established sister city-state relationships with 39 cities around the world;15 and16 H. B. 486 - 1 - 25 LC 44 3048 (5) The State of Georgia recognizes the historical, cultural, and economic importance17 of Incheon and commends its contributions to global engagement, c o m m e r c e , a n d18 cultural exchange.19 SECTION 2.20 Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to general21 provisions regarding state government, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as22 follows:23 "50-1-14.24 The City of Incheon, South Korea is designated as the official sister city-state of the State25 of Georgia."26 SECTION 3.27 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.28 H. B. 486 - 2 - ## 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 formally designate the City of Incheon, South Korea as the official sister city-state of the State of Georgia, adding the designation to state law. ### Plain-language summary This bill addresses whether Georgia has an official sister city-state relationship with Incheon, South Korea. Currently no such designation exists in Georgia law. The bill adds a new section, O.C.G.A. 50-1-14, to the part of state law covering general government provisions, stating that Incheon is designated as the official sister city-state of Georgia. The bill opens with legislative findings describing Incheon's population, its role as a major port and airport hub, its English-language education initiatives, and its existing sister city-state relationships with 39 other cities worldwide. These findings explain why lawmakers view the designation as fitting. The bill does not create funding, programs, or enforceable obligations; it simply establishes the symbolic designation in Georgia's code. ### What it does - Adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. 50-1-14, formally naming Incheon, South Korea as Georgia's official sister city-state. - States legislative findings about Incheon's population, port and airport significance, English-language initiatives, and existing sister-city relationships. - Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new designation. ### Who it affects The designation primarily affects the State of Georgia's official relationships and diplomatic or cultural exchange programs. It could touch state agencies, trade offices, and cultural organizations that engage in exchanges with Incheon, but the bill itself creates no direct obligations for individuals or businesses. ### Why it matters The designation gives Georgia an official, legally recognized sister-city relationship with Incheon, which could support future cultural, educational, or trade exchanges. The bill does not fund programs or change any regulatory requirements, so its immediate practical effect is largely symbolic and diplomatic. ### Key provisions - Section 1 lists legislative findings about Incheon's population, port and airport prominence, English-language initiatives, and its 39 existing sister city-state relationships. - Section 2 amends Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated by adding Code section 50-1-14, designating Incheon as Georgia's official sister city-state. - Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision with no substantive effect here. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-02-18) - Last action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (2025-04-04) - Sponsors: Soo Hong, William Werkheiser, Lehman Franklin, Ron Stephens, Samuel Park, Matt Reeves - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70410 > The history, votes, and amendments (235 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb486.md?full=1