HB 1139: Spalding County Water Authority Act; enact

This bill amends the 1982 state law that created Spalding County's water and sewer authority. It renames the authority the Spalding County Water Authority and shifts its nine-member board (eight appointed members plus the county commission chairperson or a designee) from six-year terms to four-year staggered terms starting January 1, 2027, naming the current members and setting new end dates for their terms. The bill sets member pay at no less than $150 per regular meeting and $25 per committee meeting, with the chair getting at least $200 a month plus committee pay, capped at 20 percent of the lowest-paid Spalding County commissioner's pay. It spells out the authority's powers over water and sewer systems, including setting rates, inspecting septic systems, fining pretreatment violators up to $1,000 per day, and using tax-lien-style executions to collect unpaid charges and penalties. It also creates a formal hearing and appeal process for violations, reviewable in Spalding County Superior Court.

• Renames the Spalding County Water and Sewerage Facilities Authority to the Spalding County Water Authority.
• Moves the authority's eight appointed board members from six-year to four-year staggered terms beginning January 1, 2027, and lists the specific end dates for each named member.
• Sets minimum meeting pay for board members ($150 per regular meeting, $25 per committee meeting) and chair pay (at least $200 per month), capped at 20 percent of the lowest-paid county commissioner's salary.
• Creates a formal enforcement process letting the authority's general manager or a hearing officer hold hearings and impose civil penalties for rule violations, with appeals available under Georgia's Administrative Procedure Act.
• Allows the authority to issue legal 'executions' (collection orders) for unpaid rates, fees, or penalties that work like liens for unpaid property taxes.
• Authorizes civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day for violations of the authority's sewer pretreatment rules.

Spalding County residents and businesses who receive water or sewer service from the authority, the authority's board members and staff, the Spalding County governing body that appoints board members, and any property owners who fall behind on water or sewer charges or violate the authority's rules.

Customers of the Spalding County Water Authority would see the same water and sewer services, but the authority gains clearer, stronger tools to collect unpaid bills and fine rule violators, while board members get updated terms and guaranteed minimum pay for their public service.

• Section 1 rewrites Sections 1 through 4 of the 1982 Act, renaming the authority and revising board membership, terms, and compensation.
• New Section 2 of the 1982 Act sets nine board members: eight county-appointed members on four-year staggered terms starting 2027, plus the county commission chairperson or designee.
• New Section 4 lists the authority's powers, including acquiring property, running water and sewer systems, setting rates, and collecting overdue charges through legal executions.
• New Section 4.1 creates an enforcement and hearing process for rule violations, letting the authority impose civil penalties reviewable in Spalding County Superior Court.
• Section 2 of the bill revises Section 25 of the 1982 Act to reaffirm the authority's power to set rates and issue revenue bonds for water and sewer projects.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 540
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-02-24Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
8. 2026-02-12House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)Patrocinador principal
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes12 de febrero de 2026

   156 a favor, 0 en contra (11 sin votar, 8 ausentes)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #506

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado24 de febrero de 2026

   53 a favor, 0 en contra (1 sin votar, 1 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

• Spalding County
• water and sewer utilities
• local government authorities
• utility rates and fees
• special district governance