HB1091: HB1091 Brantley County; nonbinding advisory referendum for the purpose of ascertaining whether the electors support a perimeter highway bypass around Waycross; provide

This bill sets up a special vote in Brantley County to gauge public opinion on a proposed perimeter highway bypass around the city of Waycross. The vote would not create the bypass or commit the county to building it; it is advisory only, meaning it measures voter sentiment for lawmakers to consider later. The bill directs the Brantley County election superintendent to call and conduct the referendum on the date of the 2026 general primary, with the question published in local media for two weeks beforehand. Voters would choose yes or no on whether they support the bypass. Brantley County would pay for the election, and the results would be certified to the Secretary of State. The bill makes compliance mandatory, allowing any county voter to seek a court order forcing the election to happen if the superintendent does not act.

• Creates a nonbinding advisory referendum in Brantley County asking voters if they support a perimeter highway bypass around Waycross.
• Schedules the referendum to be held on the date of the 2026 general primary election.
• Requires the county election superintendent to publish notice of the election once a week for two weeks before the vote.
• Makes Brantley County responsible for paying the cost of holding the referendum.
• Allows any Brantley County voter to seek a court order (writ of mandamus) if the election superintendent fails to call or conduct the vote.
• Requires certification of the results to the Georgia Secretary of State.

Brantley County voters, who would decide the referendum question; the Brantley County election superintendent, who must organize and pay for the vote; and Brantley County government, which bears the election cost and would receive the nonbinding result on the Waycross bypass proposal.

The referendum itself would not build a highway bypass or bind any government body to act, but it would give Brantley County officials and state lawmakers a formal measure of public opinion on the project, which could influence future funding or planning decisions.

• Section 1 states the legislature's purpose and findings, declaring the referendum a public benefit and essential governmental function justifying use of public funds.
• Section 2 directs the election superintendent to call and conduct the referendum on the 2026 general primary date, with the exact ballot language specified.
• Section 2 requires public notice of the election once a week for two weeks before the vote and assigns the cost of the election to Brantley County.
• Section 2 makes the county's duty to hold the election mandatory and lets any elector seek a writ of mandamus in court if the superintendent fails to comply.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-03House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-02House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-29House Hopper (House)

• John Corbett (R, HD-174)Primary sponsor

• Brantley County
• Waycross bypass
• local referendum
• highway planning
• election law