All Roll Calls
Yes: 382 • No: 5
GeorgiaHB 5132025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Local government; criteria for service delivery strategy; revise provisions
Sponsored By: Victor Anderson (Republican), James Burchett (Republican), John Corbett (Republican), John LaHood (Republican), Brian Prince (Democrat)
Became Law
Governmental AffairsState and Local Governmental OperationsGeneral Bill
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Fairer water and sewer rates
Beginning January 1, 2026, a provider cannot charge customers outside its boundaries arbitrarily higher water or sewer fees than customers inside. If a local government thinks a rate gap is unfair, it can hold a public hearing and get a qualified engineer’s rate study. The parties must try mediation or another dispute process before going to court. This helps renters and homeowners avoid unjustified extra charges.
Unincorporated residents pay more for services
Beginning January 1, 2026, when a county service mainly benefits unincorporated areas, residents and property owners there must pay the county’s share. Counties can fund this with special service districts, ad valorem taxes, assessments, user fees, grants, and local taxes and fees like solid waste, cable, alcohol, hotel‑motel, occupation, insurance premium, rental car, impact, stormwater, zoning, and title ad valorem taxes. Money that comes from incorporated (city) areas is excluded. Households outside city limits may see new or higher local taxes or fees.
Align land-use plans across a county
Beginning January 1, 2026, cities and counties in the same county must make land‑use plans compatible or adopt one countywide plan. When a jurisdiction extends water or sewer outside its borders, it must follow all applicable land‑use plans and ordinances. This guides where growth goes and can change how quickly and cheaply new housing and projects get built.
No new camera mandates at gas pumps
Beginning July 1, 2025, local governments cannot require businesses that sell gasoline to install video cameras inside or outside. Local rules adopted before May 6, 2024 still apply. This reduces new compliance costs for gas retailers.
City higher service levels protected
Beginning January 1, 2026, if a city offers a higher level of a public service than the county’s base level, it is not treated as a duplicate service in the county plan. This helps cities keep stronger services without being labeled overlapping.
Faster updates to county service plans
Beginning January 1, 2026, an “affected municipality” is the county seat and any city with at least 500 people. Counties and affected cities must review service plans when revenue sharing changes, when local governments are created, abolished, or merged, when agreements expire, or when they agree to revise. If a change affects only some governments, those parties can file a limited amendment without other approvals; partial amendments are reviewed at the next countywide review. A change in state law alone does not force a review. If any party refuses to review, others may use mediation or nonbinding arbitration.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Victor Anderson
Republican • House
James Burchett
Republican • House
John Corbett
Republican • House
John LaHood
Republican • House
Brian Prince
Democrat • House
Cosponsors
Max Burns
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/4/2025
Agree to Senate Substitute
Yes: 163 • No: 2
Senate vote • 4/2/2025
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE
Yes: 50 • No: 2
House vote • 3/6/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 169 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Effective Date
7/1/2025House Date Signed by Governor
5/14/2025HouseAct 270
5/14/2025House Sent to Governor
4/10/2025HouseHouse Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
4/4/2025HouseSenate Third Read
4/2/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
4/2/2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
3/21/2025SenateSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
3/20/2025SenateSenate Read and Referred
3/10/2025SenateHouse Third Readers
3/6/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
3/6/2025HouseHouse Committee Favorably Reported
2/27/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
2/21/2025HouseHouse First Readers
2/20/2025HouseHouse Hopper
2/19/2025House
Bill Text
HB 513/AP* (v8)
Related Bills
HB 90 — Revenue and taxation; increase maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property
HB 739 — Lawrenceville, City of; annexation of certain territory; provide
HB 579 — Professions and businesses; licensure to engage in trade; provisions
SB 566 — Ad Valorem Taxation of Property; the acceptance of tax digests in the event of a publication error made by a newspaper; provide
SB 284 — "Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008,"; issuance of orders by the Commissioner of Securities directing persons who have violated certain securities provisions to return; authorize
HB 413 — Agriculture; prohibit local ordinances that prohibit operation of mobile sawmills on agricultural land