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Panel approves bill to require shapefiles for DNX properties, adds Paulding County annexation rule and 90‑day deannexation response
Summary
House Bill 521 would require shapefiles for DNX (deannexation) properties to be provided to the legislature’s reapportionment office, add a Paulding County‑specific mutual consent requirement for annexations, and impose a 90‑day response deadline for county‑owned property deannexation requests, sponsors said. The committee approved the bill.
The State and Local Governmental Operations Committee voted to pass House Bill 521, which would require shapefiles for DNX (deannexation) properties to be provided to the legislative and congressional reapportionment office, add a narrowly written Paulding County annexation requirement and set a 90‑day deadline for cities to respond to certain county‑initiated deannexation requests.
Representative Cannon, presenting the bill, said section 1 would require shapefiles for DNX properties to assist the legislature’s reapportionment office. "There are three components to this bill. The first component simply requires that shape files for DNX properties be provided to the legislative and congressional reapportionment office," Cannon said.
Section 2 of the bill contains a narrowly tailored descriptor that would make a mutual‑consent requirement apply in only one county — Paulding County — because the language ties the rule to a particular configuration of airport‑adjacent property. Section 3 would add a 90‑day response requirement for deannexation requests where the county owns 100% of the property being deannexed; sponsors said the change was intended to prevent requests from stalling indefinitely.
Don Bollay, who said he represents Henry County, described a local example in which Henry County sought to deannex several county‑owned parcels in McDonough so the county could control permitting and development, including plans for tiny homes for veterans. "Their desire is to de annex those buildings," Bollay said, and he explained that the city had not responded because current law includes no deadline for action.
The Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) testified as neutral on the bill, describing the 90‑day provision and the ability for cities to object if a deannexation would be detrimental to public health, safety or welfare. D.J. Waller of GMA said, "Currently, we are neutral on the bill. We understand the 90 day period. We still allow city to object if they want to." Todd (GMA) added that the deannexation provision provides a stepwise process and that the language was limited in scope.
Representative Cannon supplied the LC number used in committee (LC473531S). The committee approved a motion to pass the bill; the chair indicated the motion passed with no recorded opposition.
