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HB 592GEORGIASession 2025_26State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Georgia Legislature enacts new city charter for the City of Cleveland

Original title: Cleveland, City of; provide new charter

Last action · May 13, 2025: House Date Signed by GovernorSponsors: Stan Gunter and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

The General Assembly of Georgia enacted House Bill 592 to provide a new charter for the City of Cleveland, defining its corporate boundaries, municipal powers, governing structure, administrative offices, financial procedures, and municipal court system.

Why it matters

Residents are subject to updated municipal governance rules, including four council districts, property tax assessment procedures, business licensing requirements, and municipal court jurisdiction.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

City of Cleveland residents

Residents are subject to the new municipal charter, including property tax rules, district voting structures, and local ordinances.

Directly affected

Elected officials of Cleveland

The mayor and councilmembers operate under updated governance rules, four-year terms, and conduct of business provisions.

Directly affected

Cleveland municipal employees

City staff and administrative officers serve under the revised administrative structure directed by the city manager and city council.

Key Facts

  • The City of Cleveland is reincorporated with perpetual succession and defined corporate boundaries.
  • The municipal government consists of a mayor elected at-large and four councilmembers elected from four distinct geographical districts.
  • The mayor and councilmembers serve four-year terms and must be city residents for 12 months prior to the election.
  • The city council is authorized to appoint a city manager as the chief administrative officer of the city.
Show all 8 facts
  • The Cleveland Building Authority may continue to issue revenue bonds for city facilities and buildings to be repaid from rentals.
  • Property owners must make annual ad valorem tax returns to the board of tax assessors by April 1 of each year at fair market value.
  • The municipal court is established with jurisdiction to try violations of city ordinances and fine up to $1,000.00 or imprison up to 180 days.
  • The prior charter approved May 6, 2013, is repealed in its entirety.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the City of Cleveland governing body structured under the new charter?
The municipal government consists of a mayor elected at-large and four councilmembers elected from four separate geographic districts within the city.
What is the penalty limit for violations tried in the municipal court of Cleveland?
The municipal court may fix punishment for offenses not exceeding a fine of $1,000.00 or imprisonment for 180 days, or both.
When must property owners file their annual tax returns in Cleveland?
Property owners must make an annual return under oath to the board of tax assessors between January 1 and April 1 of each year.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

13 actions
  1. May 13, 2025HouseEnrolled
    House Date Signed by Governor
  2. May 13, 2025GovernorEnrolled
    Act 151
  3. May 13, 2025Georgia General Assembly
    Effective Date
  4. Apr 7, 2025House
    House Sent to Governor
  5. Mar 10, 2025SenateCommittee
    Senate Committee Favorably Reported
  6. Mar 10, 2025SenateFloor
    Senate Passed/Adopted
Show 7 earlier actions
  1. Feb 28, 2025SenateIntroduced
    Senate Read and Referred
  2. Feb 27, 2025HouseCommittee
    House Committee Favorably Reported
  3. Feb 27, 2025House
    House Third Readers
  4. Feb 27, 2025HouseFloor
    House Passed/Adopted
  5. Feb 26, 2025House
    House Second Readers
  6. Feb 24, 2025HouseIntroduced
    House First Readers
  7. Feb 21, 2025HouseIntroduced
    House Hopper

Version history & redline

2 versions on file
Comparing LC 47 3304/a → HB 592/AP*
removed addedOfficial text
25 LC 47 removed: 3304 added: 3304/AP House Bill 592 added: (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Gunter of the 8th and Wade of the 9th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To provide a new charter for […]
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Stan GunterHouse · District 8RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Will WadeHouse · District 9RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Complete Charter Replacement

The enactment of House Bill 592 entirely repeals and replaces the previous city charter from 2013, modernizing local governance, administrative responsibilities, and financial controls.

City of Cleveland

Connected Entities

State Bar of Georgia, Georgia Secretary of State, White County and 3 more
OrganizationState Bar of Georgia“Professional organization for attorneys, of which the city attorney must be a me”Map →
PersonGeorgia Secretary of State“State office associated with the Georgia Board of Cemeterians”Map →
locationWhite County“County where the City of Cleveland is located”Map →
OrganizationGeorgia Board of Cemeterians“State board charged with regulating perpetual care cemeteries”Map →
OrganizationCity of Cleveland“The municipal corporation established and governed by the charter”Map →
OrganizationCleveland Building Authority“Authority legislatively created in 2021 to provide buildings and facilities for ”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.legis.ga.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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