# Georgia HB 1567: Quitman, City of; transfer of all legal rights, privileges, and assets to Brooks County; provide Georgia HB 1567, Quitman, City of; transfer of all legal rights, privileges, and assets to Brooks County; provide, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Chas Cannon (Republican), Robert Dickey (Republican), Jaclyn Ford (Republican) and 2 others; status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (House Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1567-2025-2026 - 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 1567 - State: Georgia - Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session - Title: Quitman, City of; transfer of all legal rights, privileges, and assets to Brooks County; provide - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-03-18 - Last action: 2026-05-12, House Date Signed by Governor - Sponsors: Chas Cannon (Republican), Robert Dickey (Republican), Jaclyn Ford (Republican), John LaHood (Republican), Darlene Taylor (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (202 yes, 181 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 12 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - County takes over Quitman service authority: benefit, low. When county takeover takes effect, Brooks County gains authority to provide all government services within Quitman's former boundaries. This includes electricity and natural gas. City and city-authority permits and licenses transfer to the county as far as federal and state law allow. The county ta… - Merger protects schools and retirement rights: benefit, low. An adopted charter cannot change the Brooks County School System's or Board of Education's status or powers. It cannot reduce pension or retirement rights. It also cannot abolish the sheriff, court clerk, probate judge, or tax commissioner offices. - Local commission studies government merger: benefit, low. After both areas approve the first vote, a nine-member commission starts December 1, 2026; appointments are due within 30 days. Quitman appoints two members, Brooks County four, state senators one, state representatives one, and the sheriff one. Members must be at least 21, have five years of Georg… - Quitman zoning stays during county handoff: benefit, low. When county takeover takes effect, Quitman's zoning and land-use rules become county ordinances within the Quitman Services District. They remain in force until Brooks County adopts rules covering district properties. The law itself does not change specific property permissions or set housing costs. - Quitman workers lack guaranteed county jobs: cost, medium. When county takeover takes effect, Brooks County does not have to retain Quitman city or city-authority employees. The county decides whether to keep those workers. The law does not require layoffs or promise severance or replacement jobs. - District taxpayers must cover Quitman debt: cost, medium. An approved charter must create tax districts within former government boundaries to retire outstanding bonded debt, including Quitman's utility-authority obligations. Under county takeover, Quitman's bonded debt becomes a Quitman Services District obligation, with Brooks County succeeding to bond-… - City creditors face limits on repayment: cost, low. Under county takeover, Brooks County, Georgia, and other state political subdivisions generally do not owe Quitman's existing liabilities. This covers city and city-authority obligations accrued through the takeover date. Exceptions preserve responsibility for bonded debt and other obligations spec… - Local governments fund merger planning costs: cost, low. After both areas approve the first vote, Quitman and Brooks County split commission costs equally beginning December 1, 2026. The law provides initial appropriations of up to $5,000; additional equal funding requires both governments' approval. Members serve without pay but can receive expense reim… - County takeover ends separate Quitman government: mixed, low. The law's separate county-takeover rules, called Part 3, repeal Quitman's city charter and create a Quitman Services District within its former limits. Quitman-created authorities end; joint authorities continue without Quitman, and ended authorities' assets and debts follow the city transfer rules… - Quitman court cases move to county: mixed, low. When county takeover takes effect, pending Quitman Municipal Court cases automatically move to Brooks County Magistrate Court or another qualified county court. Pending city-ordinance prosecutions continue, and the county can enforce the ordinance for those violations. People in city custody can mo… - Quitman voters decide on unified government: mixed, low. The law requires a consolidation vote on November 3, 2026, with Quitman and Brooks County splitting election costs equally. A majority in both Quitman and unincorporated Brooks County must approve before charter planning starts December 1, 2026. Barwick, Pavo, and Morven are excluded. Any proposed… - Quitman money shifts with spending safeguards: mixed, low. An approved unified government receives merged governments' assets and rights automatically; under county takeover, Quitman's assets and records pass to Brooks County. Contracts still requiring performance follow separate rules. City general funds must stay set aside for district services, while sp… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Chas Cannon (Republican), House - Sponsor: Robert Dickey (Republican), House - Sponsor: Jaclyn Ford (Republican), House - Sponsor: John LaHood (Republican), House - Sponsor: Darlene Taylor (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-02 | House | Remove from Local Cal/Vote Separately | fail | 75 | 97 | 5 | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 31 | 16 | 6 | | 2026-03-25 | House | Supplemental Local Calendar | pass | 96 | 68 | 8 | ## Actions (16) - 2026-05-12: House Date Signed by Governor (House) - 2026-05-12: Act 681 - 2026-05-12: Effective Date - 2026-04-10: House Sent to Governor (House) - 2026-04-02: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House) - 2026-03-31: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate) - 2026-03-27: Senate Read and Referred (Senate) - 2026-03-25: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House) - 2026-03-25: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House) - 2026-03-25: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House) - 2026-03-25: House Third Readers (House) - 2026-03-25: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House) - 2026-03-20: House Second Readers (House) - 2026-03-19: House First Readers (House) - 2026-03-18: House Hopper (House) ## Bill text - HB 1567/AP* (v12): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249042) ## 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 1567/AP* (v12) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/249042) ## 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-HB1567-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).