HB1496: HB1496 Acworth, City of; adopt by reference a certain map

Georgia city charters must keep an official record of a city's boundaries, usually a map kept by the city clerk. This bill amends the City of Acworth's charter, first adopted in 1989 and previously updated in May 2025, to formally adopt a new boundary map. The bill rewrites part of the charter's boundary section (Section 1.11) to designate the 'Official Map or Description of the Corporate Limits of the City of Acworth, Georgia,' dated January 2, 2026 and prepared by the city clerk, as the official record of the city's limits as of January 1, 2026. Certified copies of this map can be used as evidence in court. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision in Georgia local legislation.

• Amends Section 1.11 of the City of Acworth's charter to adopt a new official map of the city's corporate boundaries.
• Designates the map dated January 2, 2026, prepared by the city clerk, as the legal record of the city's limits as of January 1, 2026.
• Confirms that certified copies of the map or boundary description can be used as evidence in court with the same effect as the original.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this update to the charter.

This bill primarily affects the City of Acworth's government and city clerk's office, which maintains the official boundary map, and any residents, property owners, or businesses whose land falls near or within the city's updated boundary lines.

Keeping an accurate, legally recognized boundary map matters for determining which properties fall under Acworth's city taxes, zoning, and services versus county jurisdiction. This update replaces the prior map with a current one reflecting boundary changes made since the last charter amendment.

• Section 1 rewrites subsection (a) of Section 1.11 of the Acworth charter to adopt the January 2, 2026 map as the official boundary record.
• Section 1 states the map reflects the city's corporate boundaries as of January 1, 2026, subject to future amendment by local law or general state law.
• Section 1 confirms certified copies of the map or description are admissible in court with the same legal effect as the original.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard closing provision with no independent substantive effect.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 571
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-18Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-18Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-12Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-10House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)Primary sponsor
• Sheila Jones (D, HD-060)
• Don Parsons (R, HD-044)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Ginny Ehrhart (R, HD-036)
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 10, 2026

   159 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 12 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #693

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 18, 2026

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #728

• Acworth city charter
• municipal boundaries
• local government law
• city map