---
title: SB 616. Fulton County; written consent for the creation of community improvement districts; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb616
cite_as: SB 616, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb616
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb616.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb616/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73853
date: 2026-05-12
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.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 903
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb616.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 616
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-12
last_action: Effective Date 2026-05-12
sponsors:
  - Sonya Halpern
  - RaShaun Kemp
  - Donzella James
  - Nan Orrock
  - Josh McLaurin
  - Jason T. Dickerson
  - Robert Dawson
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB616/2025
upstream_id: 2128627
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Fulton County government
  - community improvement districts
  - property taxes
  - local elections
---

# SB 616. Fulton County; written consent for the creation of community improvement districts; provide

## Text

Senate Bill 616
By: Senators Halpern of the 39th, Kemp of the 38th, James of the 28th, Orrock of the 36th,
McLaurin of the 14th and others
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend an Act creating one or more community improvement districts in unincorporated
Fulton County, approved April 3, 1987 (Ga. L. 1987, p. 5460), as amended, particularly by
an Act approved April 2, 1998 (Ga. L. 1998, p. 4065) and an Act approved April 2, 2014
(Ga. L. 2014, p. 3526), so as to provide for written consent for the creation of community
improvement districts; to provide for submission of certain resolutions; to provide for the
appointment of a certain number of board members in case of vacancies on the board for
certain community improvement districts; to provide for special elections for certain
vacancies for certain community improvement districts; to provide for notice; to provide for
annexation of property into a community improvement district; to provide for written consent
for dissolution of community improvement districts; to provide for a definition; to provide
for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
An Act creating one or more community improvement districts in unincorporated Fulton
County, approved April 3, 1987 (Ga. L. 1987, p. 5460), as amended, particularly by an Act
approved April 2, 1998 (Ga. L. 1998, p. 4065) and an Act approved April 2, 2014 (Ga. L.
2014, p. 3526), is amended by revising paragraph (12) of Section 3 as follows:
"(12) '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. Multiple owners of one parcel shall
constitute one property owner and shall designate in writing one of their number to
represent the whole."
SECTION 2.
Said Act is further amended by revising paragraph (2) of Section 4 as follows:
"(2)(A) Written consent to the creation of the community improvement district by:
(i) A majority of the owners of real property within the district which will be subject
to taxes, fees, and assessments levied by the board of the district;
(ii) The owners of real property within the district which constitutes at least 75
percent by value of all real property within the district which will be subject to taxes,
fees, and assessments levied by the board and for this purpose value shall be
determined by the most recent approved county ad valorem tax digest; and
(iii) The written consent provided for in this subparagraph shall be submitted to the
Fulton County Tax Commissioner who shall, within 60 days of receipt of said written
consent, either certify whether divisions (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph have been
satisfied with respect to each proposed district or state in writing the reasons why
certification cannot be made.
(B) No district or board created under this Act shall transact any business or exercise
any powers under this Act until the conditions of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph
are met. A copy of such resolutions shall be filed with the Secretary of State who shall
maintain a record of all districts activated under this Act and a second copy shall be
filed with the Department of Community affairs."
SECTION 3.
Said Act is further amended by adding a new subsection to Section 5 to read as follows:
"(b.1) This subsection shall only apply to districts with a companion district in an adjacent
county. The initial board members to be elected as provided herein shall be elected in a
caucus of electors which shall be held within 60 days after the adoption of the resolutions
and obtaining the written consents herein provided at such time and place within the district
as the Fulton County Board of Commissioners shall designate after notice thereof shall
have been given to said electors by publishing the same in the legal organ of Fulton County
as hereinafter provided. Thereafter, there shall be conducted biennially, not later than 60
days following the last day for filing ad valorem property tax returns in Fulton County, a
caucus of said electors at such time and place within the district as the board shall designate
in such notice for the purpose of electing board members to those positions which have
terms expiring or are vacant. If a vacancy occurs in an elected position on the board, the
remaining members of the board shall, by majority vote within 60 days, appoint an elector
to fill such vacancy. A board member appointed by the majority vote of the board to fill
a vacancy shall only serve until the next regularly scheduled election, regardless of the
actual duration of the unexpired term of the board member vacating the position. At no
time shall the board include more than two members who were appointed by other board
members. If a vacancy occurs while two board members appointed by the board are
currently serving on the board, then a special election shall be called to fill the unexpired
term as provided for in this subsection. If a vacancy occurs for which a special election is
required, the board shall, within 60 days of the vacancy, call an election to be held within
60 days of such call, unless the vacancy occurs within 180 days of the next regularly
scheduled election, in which case a special election may, but need not, be called. For any
special election held pursuant to this subsection, notice of the special election shall be
given to the electors by publishing notice of the special election in the legal organ of Fulton
County on four dates at least 45 days, 31 days, 17 days, and ten days, respectively, prior
to such election."
SECTION 4.
Said Act is further amended by revising subsection (a) and paragraph (4) of subsection (b)
of Section 7 as follows:.
"(a) The boundaries of each district shall be as designated as such by the Fulton County
Board of Commissioners if wholly within unincorporated Fulton County and such
municipalities within which the district may be partially located if partially within the
unincorporated area of Fulton County and partially within one or more municipalities, or
by the governing authority of a municipality if wholly within the unincorporated area
thereof, as set forth in the resolutions required in Section 4 of this act, or as may thereafter
be added as provided in this Act. In the event the real property is added to the district after
its initial creation, if none of the annexation area is in unincorporated Fulton County, the
Fulton County Board of Commissioners shall not be required to make an additional
designation of boundaries of the district. Municipalities that do not have parcels in the
annexation area shall not be required to make an additional designation of boundaries."
"(4) The adoption of a resolution consenting to the annexation by the governing
authorities of Fulton County, if any portion of the annexed area is to be in the
unincorporated area of Fulton County, and such municipalities as may have area within
the district to be added by the annexation."
SECTION 5.
Said Act is further amended by revising paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Section 14 as
follows:
"(2)(A) The written consent to the dissolution of the community improvement district
by:
(i) Two-thirds of the owners of real property within the district which are subject to
taxes, fees, and assessments levied by the board of the district; and
(ii) The owners of real property constituting at least 75 percent by value of all real
property within the district which are to be subject to taxes, fees, and assessments
levied by the board and for this purpose value shall be determined by the most recent
approved county ad valorem tax digest.
(B) The written consent provided for in this paragraph shall be submitted to the Fulton
County Tax Commissioner, who shall certify whether divisions (i) and (ii) of
subparagraph (A) of this paragraph have been satisfied with respect to such proposed
dissolution."
SECTION 6.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## 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 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.

### Plain-language summary

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 it 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.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-05-12)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-05-12 (2026-05-12)
- Sponsors: Sonya Halpern, RaShaun Kemp, Donzella James, Nan Orrock, Josh McLaurin, Jason T. Dickerson, Robert Dawson
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73853

> The history, votes, and amendments (903 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb616.md?full=1