# Georgia HB 1525: Auburn, City of; revise and readopt charter in its entirety

Georgia HB 1525, Auburn, City of; revise and readopt charter in its entirety, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Chuck Efstration (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (House Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1525-2025-2026
- 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 1525
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Auburn, City of; revise and readopt charter in its entirety
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-03-06
- Last action: 2026-05-12, House Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Chuck Efstration (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (200 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 26

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Adjacent owners get city land purchase opportunities: benefit, low. Auburn can sell or transfer city property as allowed by law. It can give up its property interest after a mayoral report and council finding that the property is unneeded. That process also requires finding that the city's interest has no readily ascertainable monetary value. When street or public-…
- Auburn voters control police power changes: benefit, low. Auburn can run or contract for police and fire services, and appointed police officers can exercise arrest powers. Changes to the city’s police-protection powers must go to a referendum. Approval requires two-thirds of those voting, using the charter’s required ballot language. That language descri…
- Auburn court can charge defendants fees: cost, medium. Auburn’s Municipal Court can set fees to cover court operating costs. It can receive reimbursement for meals, transportation, and care of prisoners sent to superior court for state-law violations. Defendants can post cash, personal property, or real estate as bail security. Failure to appear for tr…
- Overdue Auburn bills can trigger penalties: cost, medium. Auburn can adopt reasonable, legally allowed collection rules for overdue taxes, fees, and other city revenue. These rules can set due dates, late penalties, and interest. The city can establish liens and their priority, treat unpaid amounts as personal debts, and revoke licenses for nonpayment. It…
- Nearby owners can pay improvement costs: cost, low. Auburn can charge property owners next to covered public improvements for their costs. Covered work includes building, rebuilding, widening, or improving streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, sewers, and utility lines and related equipment. The city must use reasonable terms and conditions. The chart…
- Auburn can levy local property taxes: cost, low. The charter gives Auburn broad powers to govern itself, within charter and Georgia law limits. The council can tax real and personal property within city limits for services, operations, debt repayment, and other lawful purposes. Ordinances set tax rates and due dates; rates must cover approved spe…
- Auburn can set local property taxes: cost, low. Auburn can tax real and personal property within city limits that is subject to state and county taxation. The council sets tax rates, due dates, and payment periods by ordinance. It can allow installments, lump-sum payments, or voluntary early payments. Auburn can also levy other taxes allowed by…
- Auburn businesses face licenses and fees: cost, low. Auburn can require business and professional licenses or permits, with reasonable health, safety, and welfare requirements. License fees can cover the city’s full cost of regulation, unless general law bars city regulation. The council can also adopt lawful occupation and business taxes. Organizati…
- Auburn candidates face residency and limits: cost, low. Auburn’s legislative authority rests with a mayor and four councilmembers. Candidates must have lived in Auburn for one year before election and be qualified city voters. While serving, they must remain city residents and registered, qualified city voters. Beginning with elections after the council…
- Auburn court sets penalties and appeals: mixed, medium. Auburn’s Municipal Court hears charter and ordinance violations and other cases assigned by law. Subject to applicable law, penalties include fines and up to one year of imprisonment with labor on public works. Contempt committed in court can bring up to 15 days of imprisonment. People sentenced to…
- Auburn can charge for utility services: mixed, low. Auburn can acquire, run, or dispose of water, sewer, gas, electric, and transportation systems. The city can set rates, fees, taxes, assessments, and service rules for these systems. It can also charge residents and businesses that benefit from garbage collection and other sanitation services. The…
- Auburn service charges face cost limits: mixed, low. Auburn can charge fees, charges, and tolls for sewer, sanitation, health, and other services. This includes services it provides or makes available inside or outside city limits. Charges cannot exceed the city's total cost of providing or making the services available. The charter sets no specific…
- Auburn can redevelop and take property: mixed, low. Auburn can set up and run an urban redevelopment program. The charter sets no program activities, funding, or eligibility rules. The city can also take property inside or outside city limits for city purposes or public improvements. Such takings must follow Georgia law. The charter names no propert…
- Business taxes with license revocation safeguards: mixed, low. Auburn can license and regulate businesses, trades, and professions, and charge license fees and taxes. The council can set business or occupation taxes by ordinance and group activities for taxation. These taxes must be legally allowed, and the business or person must have a sufficient legal conne…
- Auburn can enforce community safety rules: mixed, low. Auburn can set health, sanitation, and safety standards and remove nuisances from public or private property. It can limit air pollution and prevent pollution in natural streams within city limits. The city can set fire boundaries, fire-safety rules, and penalties consistent with Georgia law. It ca…
- Auburn can regulate driving and parking: mixed, low. Auburn can regulate vehicle use and traffic on city streets, roads, alleys, and walkways. This includes rules for parking. The authority supports orderly travel but also allows limits on driving and parking. The charter sets no specific traffic restrictions, penalties, or charges.
- Auburn limits council orders and contracts: mixed, low. Councilmembers must work through the proper department head when dealing with employees supervised by the city manager or department heads. They cannot give those employees orders, except during an authorized investigation. A contract binds Auburn only when it is written and made or authorized by t…
- Auburn officials face conduct and removal rules: mixed, low. Unless law allows it, the mayor and councilmembers cannot hold another city job or office during their terms. They cannot vote on, sign, or veto matters that give them personal gain. Appointed board members can be removed for listed conduct, including missed meetings, certain convictions, property…
- Auburn renews its city government rules: mixed, low. The law readopts Auburn’s charter and continues the city as a municipal corporation. Existing boundaries, lawful contracts, and compatible ordinances remain in place until changed as allowed by law. The council can create, change, or end non-elected offices, jobs, and departments. Appointed leaders…
- Auburn requires audits and allows investigations: mixed, low. Auburn must obtain an annual independent audit of all city accounts, funds, and financial transactions. The council selects a certified public accountant, and audit reports are public records. A state or federal audit of funds can satisfy the audit requirement. A simple council majority can launch…
- Auburn sets election dates and rules: mixed, low. City elections occur every two years in odd-numbered years, on the Tuesday after November’s first Monday. Four-year election cycles start in 2027 for the mayor and posts 1 and 3, and 2029 for posts 2 and 4. All city voters vote at large; council candidates must qualify for and remain in their post’…
- Auburn sets mayoral voting and succession: mixed, low. The mayor votes only to break a tie or provide one vote needed for passage. The mayor must return an ordinance within 10 calendar days; approval makes it law upon return. Without approval or rejection, it becomes law at noon on the tenth calendar day after adoption. Vetoes require written reasons t…
- Auburn can regulate buildings and development: mixed, low. Auburn can regulate and license construction and building trades. It can adopt building, housing, plumbing, electrical, gas, and heating and air-conditioning codes. The council can also adopt zoning and subdivision rules it considers necessary and reasonable for community safety, health, and appear…
- Auburn budgets face deadlines and limits: mixed, low. The council must set rules for operating budgets, capital improvement plans, and capital budgets. The manager must submit a proposed budget at least 60 days before the fiscal year, with supporting papers open to inspection. The final budget is due by the 15th day of the fiscal year’s first month. F…
- Auburn can borrow for city projects: mixed, low. Auburn can issue general obligation bonds for projects, programs, or ventures allowed by its charter or state law. Bond issuance must follow applicable municipal bond laws. The city can also issue revenue bonds, repaid from income generated by the activity they finance. Short-term loans must be rep…
- Auburn must fund budgets and limit additions: mixed, low. After adopting a budget, Auburn must levy taxes by ordinance to help fund approved spending. For each fund, estimated taxes, other revenue, fund balances, and applicable reserves must cover the approved spending. The council can change budget amounts by ordinance. It can add spending only from an e…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Chuck Efstration (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 47 | 0 | 8 |
| 2026-03-20 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 153 | 0 | 18 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-12: Act 668
- 2026-05-12: Effective Date
- 2026-04-10: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-23: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-03-20: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-20: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-10: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-03-09: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-03-06: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1525/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247849)

## 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 1525/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/247849)

## 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)
- [Georgia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia/bills)
- [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1525-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).