HB1489: HB1489 Douglasville, City of; require candidates seeking election from a district to reside in such district for a certain amount of time prior to the date of such election

The City of Douglasville operates under a charter first adopted in 1999. This bill amends Section 2.11 of that charter, which sets the terms and qualifications for the mayor and city council members. Under current law, candidates must be at least 21 years old and have lived in the city for twelve months before an election, and council members must keep living in the city during their term. The bill adds a new requirement specifically for district based council races: a candidate running for a council seat tied to a particular district must have lived in that district, not just somewhere in the city, for at least twelve months before the election. The bill states this same rule applies to write-in candidates. The measure repeals any conflicting laws and has already passed both the House and Senate.

• Adds a residency requirement that candidates for a district based city council seat in Douglasville must have lived in that specific district for at least twelve months before the election.
• Extends this new district residency requirement to write-in candidates seeking a council seat.
• Keeps the existing citywide requirements that the mayor and council members be at least 21 years old and have lived in the city for twelve months before the election.
• Keeps the existing rule that council members must continue living in the city during their term and stay registered to vote in city elections.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with the updated charter language.

This bill affects prospective candidates for Douglasville city council seats elected from specific districts, including write-in candidates, as well as city voters who will see this residency requirement applied to future council races.

Someone who wants to run for a district based council seat in Douglasville but has not lived in that specific district for a full year before the election would no longer be eligible, even if they have lived elsewhere in the city, narrowing the pool of eligible candidates for those seats.

• Section 1 revises Section 2.11 of the Douglasville city charter (Ga. L. 1999, p. 4559, as amended) covering city council terms and qualifications for office.
• Requires council candidates running from a district to have resided in that district for at least twelve months before the election date.
• Applies the twelve month district residency requirement equally to write-in candidates.
• Retains the existing 21 year minimum age and twelve month citywide residency requirements for mayor and council members.
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the amended charter provisions.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 568
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-23Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-20House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Sylvia Baker (D, HD-064)Primary sponsor
• Kimberly Alexander (D, HD-066)
• Kimberly New (R, HD-040)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 20, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (14 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #734

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #799

• Douglasville city charter
• local election rules
• residency requirements
• city council elections