HB1560: HB1560 Springfield, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum

Georgia cities can only use certain redevelopment tools, such as creating tax allocation districts and issuing tax allocation bonds to fund redevelopment projects, if the General Assembly specifically authorizes them under the state's Redevelopment Powers Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 44 of Title 36) and the Georgia Constitution's redevelopment provision. This bill grants that authorization to the City of Springfield, in Effingham County. The authorization does not take effect automatically. Section 2 requires the city's election superintendent to hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, asking Springfield voters whether to approve the city's use of redevelopment powers. If more than half of the votes cast favor approval, the authorization takes effect immediately. If voters reject it or the election is not properly held, the authorization never takes effect and the whole Act automatically repeals itself on the following January 1. The city must pay for the election and the results must be certified to the Secretary of State.

• Authorizes the City of Springfield to exercise all redevelopment 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 public referendum in Springfield on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026 before the authorization can take effect.
• Sets the exact ballot question voters will see, asking whether to approve the city's use of redevelopment powers.
• Automatically repeals the entire Act on the following January 1 if voters reject it or the election is not properly conducted.
• Requires the City of Springfield to pay the costs of holding the referendum and to certify results to the Secretary of State.

Residents and registered voters of the City of Springfield, who will decide the outcome by ballot; Springfield city government, which gains new financing and redevelopment tools if voters approve; and Effingham County's election superintendent, who must administer the vote.

If voters approve, Springfield could use tax allocation districts and bonds to fund redevelopment projects, tools it currently lacks without this specific state authorization. If voters reject it, the city gains no new powers and the law disappears on its own without further legislative action.

• Section 1 authorizes the City of Springfield to exercise all redevelopment powers under the Redevelopment Powers Law and related constitutional provisions, without limiting powers the law may permit.
• Section 2 requires a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, specifies the exact ballot language, and requires public notice of the election in the county's official legal organ.
• Section 2 states the authorization takes effect immediately if more than half of votes cast favor approval, but the entire Act is automatically repealed the following January 1 if it fails or the election is not properly held.
• Section 3 makes the rest of the Act (other than the referendum requirement) effective upon the Governor's signature or upon becoming law without signature.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 595
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-27House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Jon Burns (R, HD-159)Primary sponsor
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (20 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #772

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927

• redevelopment powers
• tax allocation districts
• local referendum
• Springfield Georgia
• municipal bonds