--- title: HR 1534. Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District; 25th anniversary; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1534 cite_as: HR 1534, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1534 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1534.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1534/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73804 date: 2026-03-03 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 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/hr1533.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1535.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1534.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1534 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-03-03 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Lynn Smith - Vance Smith - John Corbett - David Huddleston - Debbie Buckner text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1534/2025 upstream_id: 2128592 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - water conservation - metro Atlanta water district - legislative resolutions - environmental policy --- # HR 1534. Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District; 25th anniversary; recognize ## Text House Resolution 1534 By: Representatives Smith of the 70th, Smith of the 138th, Corbett of the 174th, Huddleston of the 72nd, and Buckner of the 137th A RESOLUTION Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the 15 counties, 97 cities, and 50 water systems in the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (Metro Water District) have worked diligently over the past 25 years to establish metropolitan Atlanta as one of the most water-efficient regions in the nation; and WHEREAS, water users within the Metro Water District have successfully reduced their per capita water consumption by more than 30 percent since 2000; and WHEREAS, 25 years ago, tiered water conservation pricing was a rare concept, yet today every water system within the Metro Water District has implemented tiered rates to incentivize efficiency; and WHEREAS, from 2008 to 2025, the District's toilet replacement rebate programs have facilitated the installation of over 155,000 high-efficiency fixtures; and WHEREAS, these comprehensive conservation efforts have contributed to a 28 percent decrease in 2050 water demand projections; and WHEREAS, more than 300 stakeholders actively participate in the Metro Water District's Board meetings, Technical Coordinating Committees, and Basin Advisory Councils annually; and WHEREAS, local governments and partner organizations have provided over $18 million in local matching funds since 2001 to support $17 million in Section 319(h) water quality grants, directly improving watershed health for all Georgia citizens; and WHEREAS, grease-related sewer overflows have decreased by over 70 percent across the region due in part to the Metro Water District's education and asset management initiatives; and WHEREAS, in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting, the Metro Water District has reached more than 100,000 K-8 students statewide with curriculum-aligned water education, fostering a culture of water stewardship for future generations; and WHEREAS, the Metro Water District was nationally recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency with the 2024 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award for Outreach and Education; and WHEREAS, the Metro Water District's implementation of a required and enforced water resources management plan serves as a national model for regional coordination; and WHEREAS, the District's measurable success in conservation and efficiency has significantly strengthened the State of Georgia's position in securing and defending its long-term water rights and resources; and WHEREAS, the Metro Water District is uniquely poised to lead the region through future growth by addressing the challenges of aging infrastructure and proactively mitigating impacts to water quality and environmental resilience; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the accomplishments of the Metro Water District be appropriately recognized. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize the 25th anniversary of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and commend its steadfast commitment to water conservation and the responsible stewardship of Georgia's water resources. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution recognizes the 25th anniversary of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, commending its work on water conservation across 15 counties, 97 cities, and 50 water systems. ### Plain-language summary This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally recognizes the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (Metro Water District), a regional body covering 15 counties, 97 cities, and 50 water systems in metro Atlanta, on its 25th anniversary. The resolution lists the district's accomplishments over 25 years, including a more than 30 percent drop in per capita water use since 2000, tiered water pricing adopted by every water system in the district, over 155,000 high-efficiency toilet installations since 2008, and a 2024 national award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The House resolves to commend the district's work and directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to the district for distribution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes the 25th anniversary of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives. - Commends the district's conservation record, including a reported 30 percent reduction in per capita water use since 2000. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to the district. - Creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties, since it is a commemorative resolution rather than a change to Georgia law. ### Who it affects The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and the 15 counties, 97 cities, and 50 water systems it covers in metro Atlanta are named in the resolution. It has no direct legal effect on residents, businesses, or other governments outside this recognition. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal force and changes no water policy or funding. Its practical effect is a formal statement of legislative recognition, which the district can point to as an official acknowledgment of its 25-year conservation record from the Georgia House of Representatives. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail the district's record: over 30 percent lower per capita water use since 2000, tiered pricing in every member water system, and over 155,000 toilet fixtures replaced through rebate programs since 2008. - The resolving clause states the House recognizes the anniversary and commends the district's water conservation and stewardship efforts. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to the Metro Water District. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-03-03) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-03) - Sponsors: Lynn Smith, Vance Smith, John Corbett, David Huddleston, Debbie Buckner - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73804 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1534.md?full=1