GeorgiaHB 12412025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Decatur, City of; city commission and public school system; revise provisions

Sponsored By: Omari Crawford (Democrat), Mary Oliver (Democrat)

Signed by Governor

Intragovernmental CoordinationState and Local Governmental OperationsLocal Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Decatur authorizes boards and zoning advice

The commission can create boards, commissions, and authorities by ordinance or resolution to investigate, hear disputes, or develop rules. Unless the charter or state law says otherwise, it appoints members and sets their terms, duties, and powers. It can authorize pay and expense reimbursement, and fills vacancies for the rest of the original term. Members serve at the commission's pleasure, but removal requires three commission votes. Each body elects leaders, can appoint a secretary, and must obtain commission approval for bylaws filed with the city clerk. Its rules cannot conflict with law or the charter, and members must take an oath when state law requires one. The commission can also appoint a planning commission and set its membership, duties, terms, and pay. That body only recommends zoning boundaries and land-use rules; its advice does not itself change zoning.

Decatur keeps commission voting rules clear

The commission must adopt rules for its proceedings. Normally, three commission members must be present to conduct business. Most questions are decided by a majority of votes cast. A roll-call vote is required when requested or when adopting an ordinance. If vacancies leave fewer than three members, the remaining members can conduct business; ordinances still require a majority vote. Once enough members are present to begin business, later departures do not break that quorum.

Decatur requires meeting notices and records

Commission meetings must be public as required by law. Decatur must post meeting notices, its journal of proceedings, and approved minutes online in a format accessible to people with disabilities. This posting is in addition to other publication required by law. The mayor or three commission members can call a special meeting, limited to business listed in the call. Members must receive notice at least 48 hours ahead, personally, by personal phone call, or by personal text message. Notice is unnecessary when the mayor and all members are present when the meeting is called. Members can waive notice in writing before or after the meeting; attending also waives notice.

Decatur strengthens investigations and ethics rules

The commission can appoint members or other people to investigate city officers, employees, departments, and agencies. It can require people to appear, produce records, and testify under oath. Outside investigations, commissioners must work through the city manager when dealing with staff under the manager. Individual commissioners cannot directly order those staff or control administrative appointments and removals. Public office cannot be used for private gain. The commission must adopt ethics rules by ordinance and appoint an ethics committee, with membership, powers, and duties set by the charter or ordinance.

Decatur limits eligibility and outside jobs

Mayor and commission candidates must be qualified city voters who lived in Decatur for the year immediately before the election. A conviction and sentence for a crime involving moral turpitude bars eligibility unless a full pardon or restored rights applies. Officials must keep living in the city and, for district seats, their district throughout their term. During their term, they cannot hold another elected public office or another city office or job. For one year afterward, paid appointed city offices and jobs are barred unless the ethics committee grants a waiver. Current and former elected officials can represent Decatur on regional or intergovernmental boards. Mayor and commissioner pay and expense reimbursement are set by city ordinance and must follow state law.

Decatur defines mayor and backup leadership

Decatur's mayor heads city government for ceremonial and state-law purposes, chairs commission meetings, and has full voting rights. The mayor has no veto power. The mayor represents the city as the commission directs or approves and gives an annual state of the city message. The mayor also reviews proposed meeting agendas with the city manager. At its first regular meeting each year, the commission elects a commissioner as mayor pro tempore for one year. This backup chairs meetings when the mayor is absent or unable to serve, as declared by a commission majority. If both leaders are absent, the commission chooses a chair for that meeting. The city manager administers officials' oaths at the first meeting each calendar year; absent officials can take them later.

Decatur sets districts and election rules

Decatur has four district commissioners and a mayor elected citywide. Each of two districts elects one Post A commissioner and one Post B commissioner. Districts follow Plan DecaturCity2022, using 2020 census boundaries and city maps. Any city area left undescribed joins the district with the smaller 2020 population. The city must review district boundaries within two years after each 10-year census to protect equal representation. Officials serve four-year terms, with commissioner elections staggered. Post A elections started in November 2001, with terms beginning January 2002; successors follow the 2005 four-year cycle. Post B elections started in November 2003, with terms beginning January 2004; successors follow the 2007 four-year cycle. The mayoral election is in November 2027, and the term begins January 1, 2028. The next mayoral election is in November 2031, followed by elections every four years. Regular elections fall on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years. Party primaries are banned, and ballots have no party labels. The candidate with the most votes wins; a tie for first place requires a runoff under state law.

Decatur sets removal and replacement rules

A commissioner can be removed for incompetence, improper conduct, abuse of office, or conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude. Other grounds include losing qualifications, knowingly violating the charter, abandoning duties, or failing to perform them. Commission removal requires four votes after an investigative public hearing and at least 10 days' written notice. A Decatur resident can also file a complaint seeking removal in DeKalb County Superior Court. Death, resignation, forfeiture, or removal leaves an office vacant. During a suspension, the remaining members appoint a replacement for the suspension period. A permanent mayor or commissioner vacancy more than 12 months before the term ends requires a special election. With 12 months or less remaining, the commission appoints someone for the rest of the term instead. A suspension that becomes permanent follows these vacancy rules. The commission fills a vacant mayor pro tempore position with a commissioner for the remaining term.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 218 • No: 1

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR

Yes: 53 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 2/17/2026

Local Calendar

Yes: 165 • No: 1 • Other: 10

Actions Timeline

House Date Signed by Governor
5/12/2026House
Act 648
5/12/2026
Effective Date
5/12/2026
House Sent to Governor
4/6/2026House
Senate Committee Favorably Reported
2/24/2026Senate
Senate Passed/Adopted
2/24/2026Senate
Senate Read and Referred
2/18/2026Senate
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
2/17/2026House
House Third Readers
2/17/2026House
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
2/17/2026House
House Second Readers
2/10/2026House
House First Readers
2/9/2026House
House Hopper
2/6/2026House

Bill Text

HB 1241/AP* (v7)
PDF

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