Georgia CommonsSB 616: Fulton County; written consent for the creation of community improvement districts; provide
Last action May 12, 2026 · Effective Date 2026-05-12
A Senate bill would rewrite the rules for Fulton County's community improvement districts, changing how landowners consent to create or dissolve them and how board vacancies are filled.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Community improvement districts (CIDs) are special areas where property owners agree to pay extra taxes or fees to fund shared improvements, like better roads or lighting. Fulton County's CID law dates to 1987 and has been amended several times. This bill updates several parts of that law. It revises the definition of a property owner, requires written consent from a majority of property owners and from owners representing at least 75 percent of property value before a district can be created, and gives the Fulton County Tax Commissioner 60 days to certify that consent. It adds special rules for districts that share a companion district in a neighboring county, covering how board members are elected, how vacancies are filled or specially elected, and how notice must be published. It also updates how property can be annexed into a district and requires two-thirds owner consent plus 75 percent value consent to dissolve a district.
What the bill does
- Redefines 'property owner' for Fulton County community improvement districts based on Fulton County's most recent tax records.
- Requires written consent from a majority of property owners and owners holding at least 75 percent of property value before a district can be created, certified by the Fulton County Tax Commissioner within 60 days.
- Adds rules for districts with a companion district in an adjacent county, including biennial elector caucuses, appointment of board members to fill vacancies, and special elections when too many appointed members are serving.
- Sets notice requirements for special elections, requiring publication in Fulton County's legal organ 45, 31, 17, and 10 days before the election.
- Updates how property boundaries and annexations into a district are determined when only part of an area is in unincorporated Fulton County.
- Requires written consent from two-thirds of property owners and owners holding 75 percent of property value to dissolve a district, certified by the Tax Commissioner.
Who it affects
Property owners within Fulton County community improvement districts, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, the Fulton County Tax Commissioner, municipalities that overlap with these districts, and the boards that govern individual community improvement districts.
Why it matters
These changes affect how easily a community improvement district can be created, expanded, or dissolved, and how its board is staffed when seats become vacant. Property owners in affected areas would face clearer, and in some cases stricter, consent and election procedures tied to their tax payments.
Key provisions
- Section 1 redefines 'property owner' using the most recent Fulton County ad valorem tax records, requiring multiple owners of one parcel to designate a single representative.
- Section 2 requires majority and 75-percent-by-value written consent to create a district, certified by the Fulton County Tax Commissioner within 60 days, with copies filed with the Secretary of State and Department of Community Affairs.
- Section 3 adds a new subsection governing districts with a companion district in an adjacent county, setting rules for elector caucuses, board vacancy appointments (capped at two appointed members), and special elections.
- Section 4 revises how district boundaries are set and how annexation into a district works when part of the area is outside unincorporated Fulton County.
- Section 5 requires two-thirds owner consent and 75-percent-by-value consent, certified by the Tax Commissioner, to dissolve a community improvement district.
From the bill
“At no time shall the board include more than two members who were appointed by other board members.”
“'Property owner' or 'owner of real property' means any entity or person shown as a taxpayer for one or more parcels of real estate on the most recent ad valorem tax records of Fulton County within the district.”
Status timeline
- Effective Date 2026-05-12
- Act 643
- Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
Show full history (13 actions)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
- RaShaun Kemp (D, SD-038)
- Donzella James (D, SD-028)
- Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
- Josh McLaurin (D, SD-014)
- Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
- Robert Dawson (D, HD-065)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 6, 2026
49 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)
- House voteApril 2, 2026
94 yea, 75 nay (2 not voting, 5 absent)
Topics
- Fulton County government
- community improvement districts
- property taxes
- local elections