# Georgia HB 1559: Palmetto, City of; qualifications, terms, powers, and duties of mayor, councilmembers, and city manager; revise provisions

Georgia HB 1559, Palmetto, City of; qualifications, terms, powers, and duties of mayor, councilmembers, and city manager; revise provisions, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Robert Dawson (Democrat), Lydia Glaize (Democrat); status signed, last action 2026-05-11 (House Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1559-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 1559
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Palmetto, City of; qualifications, terms, powers, and duties of mayor, councilmembers, and city manager; revise provisions
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-03-16
- Last action: 2026-05-11, House Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsors: Robert Dawson (Democrat), Lydia Glaize (Democrat)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (213 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Palmetto sets rules for elected leaders: cost, low. Palmetto mayor and council candidates must meet state voting qualifications for electing General Assembly members. They must have lived in Palmetto for the year before the election and owe no debt to the city. The mayor and councilmembers serve four-year terms and stay until their successors are el…
- Palmetto allows manager office with job protections: mixed, low. Palmetto's mayor and council can create a city manager office, but the law does not require it. Appointment requires a majority council vote, and charter references to the city administrator now mean city manager. Selection must rest solely on executive, educational, and administrative qualificatio…
- Palmetto assigns department and staffing powers: mixed, low. The city manager heads city administration under the mayor and council's policy direction and supervision. The manager runs departments, enforces laws and the charter, and appoints, suspends, or removes employees under law and personnel rules. Authorized staffing duties can be delegated; employees…
- Palmetto defines mayor powers and veto limits: mixed, low. The mayor is Palmetto's chief spokesperson and council chair, overseeing city affairs, funds, records, reports, and order. The mayor ensures the charter and ordinances are carried out and informs and advises the council. The mayor can call extra meetings and appoint council committees with council…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Robert Dawson (Democrat), House
- Sponsor: Lydia Glaize (Democrat), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-02 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 49 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026-03-25 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 164 | 0 | 12 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-11: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-11: Act 594
- 2026-05-11: Effective Date
- 2026-04-10: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-04-02: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-04-02: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-03-25: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-03-25: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-25: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-19: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-03-18: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-03-16: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1559/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248707)

## 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 1559/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248707)

## 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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1559-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).