SB616: SB616 Fulton County; written consent for the creation of community improvement districts; provide

Community improvement districts are special taxing areas that let commercial property owners fund shared improvements like roads or security. Fulton County has operated under a 1987 law, amended several times, governing how these districts are created and run. This bill revises that law. It clarifies who counts as a 'property owner' for consent purposes, spells out how written consent to create a district is verified by the Fulton County Tax Commissioner, and adds a new process for filling board vacancies in districts that share a border with a similar district in another county, including rules for special elections. It also updates how property can be annexed into a district and tightens the written consent requirements needed to dissolve a district, requiring two-thirds of affected property owners and 75 percent of property value to agree.

• Redefines 'property owner' for consent purposes as any taxpayer of record on Fulton County's most recent ad valorem (property) tax records within the district.
• Requires the Fulton County Tax Commissioner to certify within 60 days whether the majority-owner and 75-percent-value consent thresholds for creating a district have been met.
• Creates a new process for filling board vacancies by appointment or special election in districts with a companion district in an adjacent county, limiting appointed members to no more than two at a time.
• Sets notice requirements for special board elections, requiring publication in Fulton County's legal organ on four specific dates before the election.
• Updates how property boundaries are set when land is annexed into a district, easing redundant boundary designations when annexed land isn't in unincorporated Fulton County.
• Requires written consent from two-thirds of property owners and owners representing 75 percent of property value to dissolve a community improvement district.

Commercial and other real property owners within Fulton County's community improvement districts, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, the Fulton County Tax Commissioner, municipalities that overlap district boundaries, and board members of these districts.

These changes affect how easily businesses and property owners can form, govern, or dissolve special taxing districts that fund local improvements, and how vacancies on district boards get filled, which shapes who controls decisions about local assessments and projects.

• Section 1 revises the definition of 'property owner' to mean any taxpayer of record on Fulton County's most recent property tax digest within the district.
• Section 2 requires written consent from a majority of property owners and 75 percent of property value to create a district, verified by the Tax Commissioner within 60 days.
• Section 3 adds a new subsection to Section 5 creating an election and appointment process for board vacancies in districts with a companion district in an adjacent county, including special election notice rules.
• Section 4 revises Section 7 on how district boundaries are set and updated when property is annexed into a district.
• Section 5 revises Section 14 to require two-thirds owner consent and 75 percent value consent, certified by the Tax Commissioner, to dissolve a district.
• Section 6 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 643
3. 2026-05-12Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-04-02House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-04-02House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2026-03-10House Second Readers (House)

• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)Primary sponsor
• 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)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #639

2. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2026

   94 yea, 75 nay (2 not voting, 5 absent)

   Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857

• community improvement districts
• Fulton County government
• local taxation
• property owner consent
• special elections