HB1213: HB1213 Mableton, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Georgia law allows cities to use special redevelopment tools, including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds, under the state constitution and the Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36). This bill would authorize the City of Mableton to use all of those powers to carry out community redevelopment projects. Before that authorization can take effect, the bill requires a referendum. Mableton's election superintendent must hold an election on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, with the ballot asking voters whether to approve the city using these redevelopment powers. If more than half of votes cast favor approval, the authorization becomes effective immediately. If voters reject it, or if the election is not properly held, the authorization never takes effect and the entire Act is automatically repealed on the following January 1. The bill otherwise takes effect once signed by the Governor or upon becoming law without a signature.

• Authorizes the City of Mableton to exercise all powers under Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36), including creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds.
• Requires a citywide referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026 before the redevelopment authorization can take effect.
• Sets ballot language asking voters to approve or reject the city's use of redevelopment powers.
• Automatically repeals the entire Act on the following January 1 if voters reject it or if the election is not properly conducted.
• Makes the redevelopment authorization effective immediately if more than half of the votes cast favor approval.
• Requires the election superintendent to publish notice of the election in Cobb County's official legal organ and to certify results to the Secretary of State.

Mableton city government and its election superintendent, who must run the referendum; registered voters in the City of Mableton, who decide the outcome; and anyone affected by future redevelopment projects, tax allocation districts, or bonds the city might create if voters approve.

If Mableton voters approve the referendum, city officials would gain new tools to fund redevelopment projects by capturing future increases in property tax revenue through tax allocation districts and issuing bonds against that revenue, rather than raising general taxes. If voters reject it, the city gets none of these powers and the law disappears.

• Section 1 authorizes the City of Mableton to exercise all redevelopment powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law and the related state constitutional provision (Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(b)).
• Section 2 requires a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, with specific ballot language, notice publication requirements, and certification of results to the Secretary of State.
• Section 2 provides that Section 1 takes effect immediately only if more than half of votes cast favor approval; otherwise the entire Act is automatically repealed the following January 1.
• Section 3 sets the Act's general effective date as upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval, except where Section 2 controls.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 551
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-03Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-20House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Terry Cummings (D, HD-039)Primary sponsor
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)
• Michael Smith (D, HD-041)
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• Solomon Adesanya (D, HD-043)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 20, 2026

   162 yea, 0 nay (9 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #537

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 3, 2026

   45 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 4 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #600

• Mableton
• redevelopment powers
• tax allocation districts
• local referendum
• Cobb County