HB1555: HB1555 Fort Valley, City of; deannex certain territory

This bill amends the 1907 charter of the City of Fort Valley, a local law that sets up the city's government and its utility commission. It removes specific territory from the city's boundaries: the right-of-way of State Route 96 east of a named GPS point, and any portion of the right-of-way of Houser's Mill Road. That land would no longer be inside the city limits. The bill also changes how the city and its utility commission handle property tied to the utility system. It requires the city to transfer title of any real or personal property connected to the utility system to the commission whenever the commission passes a resolution asking for it, closing out any ambiguity about who legally owns that property. The bill repeals any conflicting laws once it takes effect.

• Removes the right-of-way of State Route 96 east of a specific coordinate point from the City of Fort Valley's corporate limits.
• Removes any portion of Houser's Mill Road's right-of-way from the city's corporate limits.
• Requires the city to transfer title to any utility-related real or personal property to the utility commission once the commission adopts a resolution requesting it.
• Keeps existing rules letting the commission buy, sell, lease, or trade property tied to the utility system, as long as related debts are satisfied.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with these changes.

Residents and property owners along the affected stretch of State Route 96 and Houser's Mill Road near Fort Valley, the City of Fort Valley's government, and the city's utility commission, which manages water, power, or other utility services and related property.

People living or owning property along the deannexed roadways would shift out of the city's jurisdiction, changing which local government provides services or collects taxes there. The utility commission would also gain a clearer, faster path to take ownership of utility property without needing separate city approval each time.

• Section 1 adds a new Section 1B to the 1907 city charter removing the described State Route 96 and Houser's Mill Road right-of-way from Fort Valley's corporate limits.
• Section 2 revises subsection (f) of Section 1.1 of the charter, keeping the utility commission's existing power to buy, sell, lease, and trade utility-related property.
• Section 2 adds a requirement that the city must transfer title of qualifying utility property to the commission once the commission adopts a resolution requesting the transfer.
• Section 3 repeals any laws that conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 644
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-23House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)Primary sponsor
• Patty Stinson (D, HD-150)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 23, 2026

   158 yea, 0 nay (12 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #739

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #825

• city annexation and deannexation
• Fort Valley Georgia
• municipal utilities
• local government charters