# Georgia HB 1246: Clayton, City of; provide new charter

Georgia HB 1246, Clayton, City of; provide new charter, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Victor Anderson (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-HB1246-2025-2026
- 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 1246
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Clayton, City of; provide new charter
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-09
- Last action: 2026-05-11, House Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Victor Anderson (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (218 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 18

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Clayton property owners keep tax-sale redemption rights: benefit, low. The city clerk can transfer collection orders for unpaid taxes or street, sewer, and other assessments. The recipient gets the rights Georgia law provides. Owners whose property is seized and sold under these orders keep the right to redeem, or reclaim, it. Redemption follows the same requirements…
- Neighbors get chances to buy city parcels: benefit, low. Clayton can sell, convey, or lease city property as Georgia law allows. Special sale rules cover small parcels separated from city land by street or public-place opening, extension, or widening. A sale must support the best use of an adjoining owner’s property. Each adjoining owner must receive not…
- Residents gain safeguards against official misconduct: benefit, low. The mayor and councilmembers cannot vote, sign, or veto matters in which they have a personal interest. Councilmembers generally cannot hold another elected city office or city job during their terms, unless Georgia law allows it. Council removal for listed grounds requires a two-thirds vote of the…
- Clayton service bills can become property liens: cost, medium. Clayton can set monthly or annual sanitation and health-service charges for city residents and businesses benefiting from those services. Charges can vary by property or service class; sewer charges can apply where sewer systems are made available. The city can also set sewer connection fees and ut…
- Clayton can take property for public projects: cost, medium. Clayton can condemn property inside or outside city limits for city purposes, including public improvements and facilities. The city must follow the condemnation process required by Georgia law. The charter identifies no property to be taken and sets no compensation amount.
- Property owners can owe improvement assessments: cost, medium. The council can charge adjoining property owners all or part of the cost of specified public improvements. Covered work includes construction, reconstruction, widening, and improvements to listed public facilities. The assessment becomes a lien on the adjoining property. Interest runs at 9% per yea…
- Clayton employee firing and pay rules: cost, medium. Clayton city employees can be removed at any time unless a city ordinance provides different job protections. The city manager must prepare a job classification and pay plan for city council approval. After adoption, the council can change a position’s salary range only by amending that plan. These…
- Clayton property owners face city tax rules: cost, medium. Clayton property taxable by the state or county and assessed as of January 1 is subject to city property tax. The council sets the rate, due date, and payment period by ordinance; the charter sets no tax amount. The council can allow one payment, two installments, or voluntary early payment. Tax le…
- Clayton businesses face taxes and license fees: cost, medium. The council can impose license fees and occupation taxes on covered people and companies in Clayton. Coverage includes those doing or offering business, or practicing or offering a profession or calling, in the city. The council can classify businesses and occupations, require licenses, and enforce…
- Clayton pays elected officials and expenses: cost, low. The mayor and councilmembers receive pay set by city ordinance, consistent with Georgia law. The city also reimburses actual, necessary expenses incurred while performing official duties. The charter sets no pay or reimbursement amounts.
- Clayton court sets penalties and appeal rights: mixed, medium. The law establishes Clayton’s Municipal Court, with powers granted by Georgia law, including nuisance matters, summonses, subpoenas, and warrants. The council appoints judges and sets their pay by ordinance; judges must be at least 21 and legally qualified. Court penalties cannot exceed city and st…
- Court bail risks forfeiture with notice rights: mixed, medium. The court can set bail and accept cash, personal property, or real property to secure a defendant’s appearance. Missing the required court appearance can forfeit cash or create a lien on deposited property, collected like city property-tax liens. A bail-bond forfeiture hearing requires notice serve…
- City manager gets pay and exit rules: mixed, low. Removing the manager requires preliminary and final resolutions, each approved by a majority of all councilmembers. The preliminary resolution must state the reasons; the manager has five days after receipt to request a public hearing. A requested removal hearing must occur within 30 days, and susp…
- Clayton council sets policy, manager runs operations: mixed, low. The law continues Clayton, preserves its boundaries, and establishes a council–manager government. The council sets policy, makes enforceable rules, and can create, combine, or end city offices and departments. City powers cover buildings, businesses, safety, traffic, zoning, waste, services, and u…
- Clayton voters get nonpartisan city elections: mixed, low. The mayor and councilmembers serve four-year terms; current officeholders finish their existing terms. Elections occur on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November for offices whose terms expire that year. Elections have no party primaries or party labels on ballots. Candidates need 12 months…
- Clayton budgets face deadlines and spending limits: mixed, low. The manager must prepare a balanced annual budget, and the council must adopt the operating budget by June 30. Fund appropriations cannot exceed estimated balances, reserves, and revenue; spending and committed costs cannot exceed approved amounts. If adoption is late, current operating appropriati…
- Clayton can borrow with repayment limits: mixed, low. Clayton can issue general obligation bonds for authorized projects, programs, or ventures, following Georgia bond laws. It can also issue revenue bonds, repaid from revenue produced by the financed project, program, or venture. Short-term loans must be repaid by December 31 each year unless another…
- Companies face street-use agreements and taxes: mixed, low. Clayton can grant street and alley use agreements to railroads, utilities, telecommunications providers, transportation companies, and similar organizations. Each agreement can last no more than 30 years, and the city must receive fair and adequate compensation. When no agreement is in effect, the…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Victor Anderson (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-24 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 53 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 165 | 1 | 10 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-11: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-11: Act 553
- 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)
- 2026-02-18: 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)
- 2026-02-11: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-10: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-09: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1246/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/243589)

## 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 1246/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/243589)

## 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-HB1246-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).