# Georgia HB 1139: Spalding County Water Authority Act; enact

Georgia HB 1139, Spalding County Water Authority Act; enact, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Beth Camp (Republican), Karen Mathiak (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-11 (House Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1139-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 1139
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Spalding County Water Authority Act; enact
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-02
- Last action: 2026-05-11, House Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsors: Beth Camp (Republican), Karen Mathiak (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (211 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 8

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Authority board members get capped meeting pay: benefit, low. Authority members receive at least $150 for each regular monthly meeting attended and $25 for each approved committee meeting attended. The chair receives at least $200 per month for serving as chair, plus $25 per approved committee meeting attended. Meeting pay is available only for meetings atten…
- Spalding County is protected from Authority fines: benefit, low. The Authority cannot levy or assess fines or civil penalties against Spalding County or county-owned property. This protection applies to the county, not to household customers or private property owners.
- Water protections bring inspections and service limits: mixed, medium. The Authority can regulate, inspect, and repair water and sewer systems within and outside Spalding County. It can enter public or private property for listed surveys, tests, evaluations, and compliance checks. It can set standards and permit requirements, issue fines or stop-work orders, suspend o…
- Authority debts bring liens and appeal rights: mixed, medium. Covered Authority debts can become liens on land and other property, including penalties, rates, fees, assessments, interest, and collection expenses. These liens have the same priority and collection and foreclosure powers as unpaid state or county property-tax executions. The general manager or a…
- Homeowners face sewage repair charges and liens: mixed, medium. The Authority can inspect on-site sewage systems on properties receiving its water service and recommend repairs. If an owner fails or refuses to make recommended repairs, the Authority can make repairs it considers necessary. It can charge the owner, place a property lien, pursue collection, or st…
- Authority sets customers’ water and sewer charges: mixed, low. The Spalding County Water Authority can set, change, and collect charges for its water and sewer services. It can finance system projects with revenue bonds and repay them with project revenues. Rates must cover operating costs, bond payments, and required reserves. The law sets no customer rate or…
- Industrial wastewater violations bring daily fines: mixed, low. The Authority can set and enforce pretreatment rules for industrial wastewater entering its sewer system for treatment. These rules protect wastewater treatment, while violators face civil penalties of up to $1,000 for each day of continuing noncompliance. The Authority can also seek a court order…
- Local governments can make long-term utility commitments: mixed, low. The Authority and authorized public entities can make water or sewer service and facility agreements lasting up to 50 years. These agreements support service delivery but create long-term payment and performance obligations. A signing public entity’s obligations are general obligations backed by it…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Beth Camp (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Karen Mathiak (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 53 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 158 | 0 | 14 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-11: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-11: Act 540
- 2026-05-11: Effective Date
- 2026-04-06: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-02-24: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-02-24: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-02-12: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-02-12: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-02-04: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-03: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-02: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1139/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/243581)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [HB 1139/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/243581)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1139-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).