SB 630: City of Hiram; transfer of duties and obligations to Paulding County; provide

This bill repeals the 1956 state law that created the City of Hiram, effectively ending the city as a municipal corporation. In its place, Paulding County would take over all governmental functions within Hiram's former boundaries, treating that area like any other unincorporated part of the county. The bill transfers Hiram's property, funds, contracts, permits, and pending court cases to Paulding County, and makes the county responsible for the city's bonded debt through a new Hiram Services District, a special tax zone that can be used to repay bondholders. Hiram's zoning rules would carry over until the county adopts its own. A 'Community of Hiram' designation would preserve the name with signage marking the old boundaries. The bill states the delay to 2027 gives the city time to show it can become financially stable, and the General Assembly could still change course before then.

• Repeals the 1956 Act that incorporated the City of Hiram, ending its existence as a municipal government.
• Transfers all of the city's property, funds, contracts, permits, and licenses to Paulding County automatically, without deeds or other transfer paperwork.
• Creates the Hiram Services District, a special tax zone matching the old city limits, to handle the city's bonded debt and other lingering obligations.
• Moves pending municipal court cases to Paulding County Magistrate Court and shifts law enforcement custody of anyone jailed by the city to the Paulding County Sheriff's Office.
• Keeps Hiram's zoning and land use rules in effect within the former city limits until Paulding County passes its own zoning covering that area.
• Sets the effective date as July 1, 2027, and states the General Assembly may revisit the decision before then if the city shows financial stability.

Residents, businesses, and property owners within the current City of Hiram; Hiram city employees and officials, who would lose their positions; Paulding County government, which absorbs the city's assets, debts, and service duties; and bondholders and contract counterparties owed money by the city.

If enacted, people living in Hiram would see their local government replaced by Paulding County, changing who sets zoning rules, collects taxes, runs courts, and provides services. The city's debts would shift to a new special tax district, and the city name would survive only as an unincorporated 'Community of Hiram.'

• Section 2 repeals the 1956 Act that incorporated the City of Hiram in its entirety.
• Section 3 gives Paulding County full authority to provide government services and enforce county ordinances within the former city boundaries.
• Section 5 creates the Hiram Services District, a special tax and service district matching the old city limits, which the county can later abolish by resolution.
• Section 6 transfers nearly all of Hiram's real and personal property, accounts receivable, and records to Paulding County without formal deeds.
• Section 7 makes the Hiram Services District responsible for the city's bonded debt, with Paulding County able to levy special taxes or fees there to pay it off, and shields the county and state from other city liabilities.
• Section 10 moves pending municipal court cases to the Paulding County Magistrate Court and says the city can no longer be a party to lawsuits.
• Section 11 keeps Hiram's zoning and land use rules in effect within the district until Paulding County adopts its own zoning for the area.
• Section 15 sets the effective date of the Act as July 1, 2027.

1. 2026-03-23Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-20Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)Primary sponsor

• city dissolution
• Paulding County
• municipal government
• local taxes
• Hiram Georgia