This legislation would codify the process for creating a new municipality in Georgia. Currently, much of the process of creating a new municipality cannot be found anywhere but in internal legislature rules. The process for creating a new municipality under this legislation would include:

• A limitation for introduction of new cityhood bills to members of the House of Representatives or Senate whose districts are wholly or partially located in the area of the new city.
• A prohibition on the new municipality creating unincorporated islands.
• A prohibition on any limitations of services a new municipality may provide.
• A required timeline for new municipalities.
• The creation of city initiative committees, which would be a corporation, would have the responsibility of promoting or leading the effort to create the new city, be subject to open meetings and open records laws, be subject to lobbying disclosures, and be required to obtain petitions of electors in the proposed area prior to introduction of a cityhood bill.
• Codify the requirement of a study for the creation of a new city, which shall include a financial impact component.
• Require that any new city receive at least 55% of the vote at a referendum held in November for the new city.
• Allow for the creation of a special district to handle unfunded pension obligations if the financial study determines there is a impact resulting from pension obligations.
• Make certain requirements relating to the provision of services in the new municipality after its creation.