# Georgia HB 1205: Yatesville, City of; provide new charter

Georgia HB 1205, Yatesville, City of; provide new charter, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Robert Dickey (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1205-2025-2026
- 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 1205
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Yatesville, City of; provide new charter
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-05
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsor: Robert Dickey (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (214 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 22

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Yatesville court decisions have review rights: benefit, low. The charter establishes Yatesville's municipal court, led by a chief judge and any additional judges authorized by ordinance. The council appoints judges who must be at least 21 and meet legal qualifications. An ordinance sets their pay; Georgia law governs their terms and removal. People in crimin…
- Yatesville emergency rules have firm limits: benefit, low. The council can pass an emergency rule at its first meeting when an emergency threatens life, health, property, or public peace. The rule must clearly describe the emergency and receive at least three councilmembers' votes. It takes effect upon adoption or a stated later date and expires after 30 d…
- Yatesville court can impose fines and jail: cost, medium. The municipal court hears charter and ordinance violations, with penalties up to $1,000, 180 days in jail, or both. Other sentencing authority provided by law still applies. Contempt committed in court can bring up to 10 days in jail and a fine allowed by law. The court can set operating fees and r…
- City workers and appointees serve at will: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, city employees can be removed at any time unless an ordinance provides otherwise. Subject to charter limits, the council can create, end, change, combine, or leave vacant unelected offices, positions, departments, and agencies. The mayor nominates qualified appointed officer…
- City staff face political office limits: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, mayors and councilmembers generally cannot hold another city office or job unless law permits it. Former mayors and councilmembers must wait one year after their elected term ends before taking an appointed city office. Appointed officers must leave city employment when they…
- Overdue Yatesville bills can trigger liens: cost, low. The council can set reasonable, lawful collection methods for overdue taxes, fees, and revenue covered by charter Sections 6.1 through 6.8. These methods include late penalties, interest, property liens, personal debts, and permit revocation for nonpayment. The city can also use formal tax collecti…
- Local businesses can face permit fees: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Yatesville can require local businesses and practitioners to get permits and pay reasonable regulatory fees. State law must allow the requirements. Each fee must reflect the city's total cost of regulating that activity. The charter sets no fee amounts.
- Yatesville officials face strict ethics penalties: cost, low. Covered city officials and employees must disclose financial interests and stay out of related council decisions and votes. Rules also restrict conflicting private work, gifts, misuse of confidential information, and personal use of city property. Knowing violations or concealment cause loss of off…
- Street-use providers owe Yatesville fair payment: cost, low. The council can grant franchises allowing providers to use city streets and alleys for no more than 35 years. It sets the terms and whether a franchise is exclusive, and the city must receive fair, adequate payment. When no franchise agreement exists, the city can tax gross receipts of specified ut…
- Yatesville improvements can affect owners' property: mixed, medium. Yatesville can acquire, build, and maintain public facilities and improvements inside or outside the city. It can take property for those purposes through Georgia's condemnation procedures; the charter states no compensation amount or timetable. The city can charge special assessments to cover publ…
- Yatesville can charge for basic services: mixed, low. Yatesville can run, contract for, or dispose of utilities and set rates, fees, and other service charges. It can charge for stormwater, garbage, sanitation, health, and other services, including services available outside city limits. Sewer charges can apply when service is available or used, with…
- City land sales give neighbors options: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Yatesville can sell or lease city property, subject to applicable law. It can give up certain property interests after a mayoral report and council resolution. Those interests must be unneeded and have no readily measurable cash value. Parcels cut off by street work can be s…
- City workers get formal pay rules: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the mayor prepares a job classification and pay plan for council approval. The plan can cover city workers and employees of city agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and authorities. Once approved, a job's salary range can rise or fall only through a plan amendment. E…
- Yatesville can tax residents' taxable property: mixed, low. Yatesville can assess and tax real and personal property within the city that is subject to state and county taxation. The council must set the property-tax rate, due date, and payment period by ordinance. It can allow two installments, one lump-sum payment, or voluntary early payment. The charter…
- Yatesville businesses can face local taxes: mixed, low. The council can levy business and occupation taxes by ordinance and classify businesses or professions for tax purposes. Yatesville can also require permits and charge regulatory fees allowed by Georgia law. Regulatory fees must reflect regulatory costs. A permit can be revoked for unpaid city taxe…
- City elections drop party labels: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Yatesville city candidates appear on ballots without party labels. Political parties cannot hold primaries for city offices. The law states no direct household financial effect.
- New charter guides Yatesville city government: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Yatesville's new charter keeps its existing boundaries and gives it broad local powers. The city can operate services, contract with other governments or private parties, and regulate buildings, businesses, traffic, and land use. The council can pass local rules and set pena…
- Yatesville adds oversight and removal procedures: mixed, low. After approving a resolution, the council can investigate city affairs and require sworn testimony and evidence. People who refuse lawful orders can face city penalties. City officers can be removed for grounds allowed by Georgia law, through an impartial hearing or court order. A Yatesville reside…
- Yatesville sets election and vacancy rules: mixed, low. City elections occur every two years in odd-numbered years, on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The mayor and two council seats are elected together; the remaining three seats alternate with them. The candidate with the most votes wins, without needing more than half of all votes. A…
- Yatesville sets qualifications for city leaders: mixed, low. Yatesville's government has a mayor and five councilmembers, elected citywide for four-year terms. No more than one councilmember can live in each district. Candidates must have lived in the city for 24 months before the election. While serving, leaders must remain city residents and registered, qu…
- Yatesville can borrow with repayment limits: mixed, low. Yatesville can issue general obligation bonds for authorized projects and revenue bonds payable from the financed project's revenue. Bond issuance must follow Georgia law. Short-term loans must be repaid by December 31 each year unless another law provides otherwise. Multiyear lease, purchase, and…
- Yatesville budgets require funding and public audits: mixed, low. The mayor must submit the operating budget and recommended capital plan at least 45 days before the fiscal year begins. The council must adopt operating and capital budgets by March 30; otherwise, current appropriations continue month to month. Spending cannot exceed estimated revenue, fund balance…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Robert Dickey (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 49 | 0 | 4 |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 165 | 1 | 10 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-11: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-11: Act 550
- 2026-04-06: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-02-17: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-02-17: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-02-09: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-06: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-05: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1205/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/245327)

## 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 1205/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/245327)

## 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-HB1205-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).