# Georgia HB 877: Fayetteville, City of; provide new charter

Georgia HB 877, Fayetteville, City of; provide new charter, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Debra Bazemore (Democrat), Josh Bonner (Republican), Derrick Jackson (Democrat) and 1 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-HB877-2025-2026
- 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 877
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Fayetteville, City of; provide new charter
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-03-28
- Last action: 2026-05-12, House Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsors: Debra Bazemore (Democrat), Josh Bonner (Republican), Derrick Jackson (Democrat), Karen Mathiak (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (213 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 28

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Fayetteville mayor and council receive annual pay: benefit, high. The Fayetteville mayor receives $25,000 a year. Each of the five councilmembers receives $20,000 a year. They also receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses from their official duties.
- Neighbors get purchase opportunities for city parcels: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, the council can sell, transfer, or lease city property as allowed by law. It can relinquish property claims after a manager's report and council findings show no public need or readily measurable monetary value. The manager can sell certain small city parcels separated by st…
- Fayetteville gets a new city charter: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, Fayetteville operates under a new charter that gives it broad powers under Georgia law. The law repeals the 1970 and 1997 charter acts and their amendments in full. Existing city rules stay in force unless they conflict with the new charter. Those rules remain until the coun…
- Fayetteville budgets face deadlines and spending limits: benefit, low. The manager must submit the operating budget at least 30 days before the fiscal year starts and allow public inspection. The council must adopt the final budget by the first day of that year. Each fund's appropriations cannot exceed estimated balances, reserves, and revenues, and must cover require…
- Fayetteville construction spending follows annual capital budgets: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, the manager must submit a capital plan and financing budget at least 30 days before each fiscal year. The council must adopt the final capital budget by the year's first day. Construction spending generally must appear in that budget, except spending needed for a public emer…
- Fayetteville owners can face improvement charges: cost, medium. By ordinance, Fayetteville can charge property owners whose land borders a public improvement for its cost. Covered work includes building, rebuilding, widening, or improving streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, sewers, and utility lines and related equipment. The charter sets no charge amount or me…
- Fayetteville city employees serve at will: cost, medium. Fayetteville city employees serve at will and can be removed at any time unless another law or city ordinance says otherwise. The city manager nominates appointed officers and department directors, and the council confirms them. Selection must be based on administrative and professional qualificati…
- Fayetteville sets property taxes and payment rules: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2025, the charter authorizes Fayetteville to tax real and personal property within city limits. The property must also be subject to state and county taxation. Revenue can fund city services, general-obligation debt payments, and other public purposes. The council must set the rat…
- Overdue Fayetteville bills face collection penalties: cost, medium. By ordinance, Fayetteville can set reasonable, lawful ways to collect overdue city taxes, fees, and covered revenue. These can include late penalties, interest, property liens, and court-backed tax collection orders. The city can treat amounts owed as personal debts or revoke city permits for nonpa…
- Fayetteville business taxes and permit fees: cost, medium. Fayetteville can tax businesses, occupations, and professions when state law allows. The council can group these activities into different tax classes. By ordinance, it can also require businesses and practitioners to get permits and pay regulatory fees. These fees must be reasonable and reflect th…
- Fayetteville can charge for city services: cost, low. Fayetteville can collect charges for garbage, sewer, utilities, sanitation, health, and other city services. By ordinance, charges can cover services provided or made available inside or outside city limits. Service charges can apply to people or entities receiving or benefiting from the service. T…
- Fayetteville leaders face city employment limits: cost, low. The mayor and councilmembers generally cannot hold another city office or work for the city while serving, unless law allows it. Former mayors and councilmembers must wait one year after their elected term ends before taking an appointed city office. Appointed officers also face restrictions when q…
- Street-use companies must compensate Fayetteville: cost, low. The council can grant companies rights to use city streets and alleys and set the agreement's terms and exclusivity. These franchise agreements cannot last more than 35 years and must provide fair, adequate compensation to the city. Without a franchise agreement, the council can tax gross receipts…
- Fayetteville taxes must support budget spending: cost, low. Fayetteville must levy taxes by ordinance as needed to fund its annual general-government budget. For each fund, estimated revenue, fund balances, and applicable reserves must cover approved spending. The council can change current operating-budget spending by ordinance at a regular, special, or em…
- Fayetteville court sets penalties, fees, and appeals: mixed, medium. The charter establishes a municipal court with council-appointed judges, age 21 or older, who meet legal qualifications. Ordinances set judge pay and staffing; state law governs terms and removal. For offenses within its authority, the court can impose up to $1,000, 180 days in jail, or both, with…
- Missed Fayetteville trials can cost bail security: mixed, medium. The municipal court can set bail and accept cash, personal property, or real estate to secure a defendant's appearance. If the defendant misses the scheduled trial, the court can forfeit the bond or cash or place a property lien. The defendant and anyone guaranteeing the bond must receive notice at…
- Fayetteville can set utility bills and shutoffs: mixed, low. Fayetteville can acquire, build, lease, operate, maintain, sell, or dispose of public utilities inside or outside city limits. It can set service charges, penalties, connection fees, and service standards, including stormwater and sewer charges. The city can stop utility service for refusal or fail…
- Fayetteville speakers get comment periods with limits: mixed, low. Regular council meetings must offer public comment on city business, subject to applicable law or ordinance. Speakers give their name and address and speak once for up to three minutes within a 30-minute total period. Repetitive comments and specified abusive or disruptive conduct are barred; the m…
- Fayetteville can set safety and property rules: mixed, low. Fayetteville can regulate buildings, land use, animals, businesses, traffic, sanitation, environmental protection, and public nuisances under Georgia law. It can provide or arrange police, fire protection, transportation, waste collection, and other local services. Residents and businesses can face…
- Fayetteville council makes rules and investigates: mixed, low. The council can make and enforce local rules consistent with the charter, Georgia's Constitution, and state law. Three councilmembers form a quorum, and ordinary ordinances need three affirmative votes and generally at least one reading. The mayor has five days to veto an ordinance; overriding a ve…
- Fayetteville emergency rules expire after 30 days: mixed, low. During emergencies affecting life, health, property, or public peace, the council can pass an ordinance at its first meeting. It must clearly describe the emergency and receive approval from at least a majority of councilmembers present. It takes effect upon adoption or a stated later date and expi…
- Fayetteville personnel face conflict-of-interest rules: mixed, low. City officials and employees cannot knowingly let private jobs or financial interests conflict with their city duties. They face limits on confidential information, gifts from people interested in city business, and representing private interests against the city. Campaign contributions and campaig…
- Fayetteville voters choose leaders without party labels: mixed, low. City voters elect one mayor and five councilmembers citywide for four-year terms; council candidates choose a specific post. Candidates must be at least 21 and have lived in Fayetteville for 12 months before the election. While serving, they must remain city residents and registered, qualified city…
- Residents can access Fayetteville's annual financial audits: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, Fayetteville must obtain an annual independent audit of all accounts, funds, and financial transactions. A council-selected certified public accountant must follow generally accepted auditing principles. A state or federal audit can satisfy the requirement. The public can ob…
- Rules govern replacing Fayetteville city leaders: mixed, low. Offices become vacant after death, resignation, moving away, incompetency, specified convictions, or four consecutive regular-meeting absences without approved leave. Voters fill vacancies at the next available special or general election. Remaining councilmembers can appoint a temporary councilmem…
- Fayetteville can take property for public projects: mixed, low. Fayetteville can acquire property through condemnation for public projects, including roads, parks, utilities, and hospitals. This authority covers property inside or outside city limits. The taking must serve a stated public purpose and follow the process required by applicable law. The charter se…
- Fayetteville can finance projects through borrowing: mixed, low. The council can issue bonds for projects, programs, or ventures allowed by the charter or state law. Bond issues must follow applicable municipal bond laws. Revenue bonds are repaid from money produced by the project, program, or venture they finance. The city can also take short-term loans, genera…
- Fayetteville contracts need written approval and safeguards: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, binding city contracts must be written and drafted or reviewed and signed by the city attorney. The council must make or authorize each contract and record its approval. Fayetteville can make multiyear lease, purchase, and lease-purchase contracts for property, goods, and se…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Debra Bazemore (Democrat), House
- Sponsor: Josh Bonner (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Derrick Jackson (Democrat), House
- Sponsor: Karen Mathiak (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 48 | 1 | 4 |
| 2026-02-06 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 165 | 0 | 10 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-12: Act 656
- 2026-05-12: Effective Date
- 2026-04-06: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-02-17: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-02-17: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-02-09: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-02-06: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-02-06: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2025-04-02: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-03-31: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-03-28: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 877/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/242701)

## 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 877/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/242701)

## 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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB877-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).