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Council member warns Hiram City could face legislative push to dissolve the city

Hiram City Council ยท April 1, 2026

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Summary

A council member told attendees that legislation first reported as House Bill 630 has been taken off but may have "morphed" into other measures that could threaten Hiram City's municipal status; the speaker urged residents to contact state legislators and noted the legislative session's deadline.

A council member warned residents at Hiram City's March work session that recent legislative activity could threaten the city's municipal status and called for immediate civic engagement.

The speaker said the city's independent attorney informed officials that "House Bill 630 ... is no longer active" but cautioned that the proposal had "morphed into a different bill, House Bill 1166," and may now be shifting again. "We are living in the unknown unknown ... we don't know where we are," the council member said, urging residents to contact state lawmakers and monitor developments.

The council member said the city had reached out to county officials and intended to secure independent legal counsel "to ensure that Hiram's interests, not the county's, are fully protected." The speaker warned that dissolution could impose a new special district tax and change who controls local services, saying, "According to the bill, the dissolution of our city would subject residents to a special Hiram district tax, placing a new burden on our community while shifting control of Hiram's future." The speaker also raised public-safety concerns, saying that dissolving the city "would only add strain" to sheriff's staffing and services.

The council member named elected officials the public should contact and follow up with: "your senator Jason Navitarti of District 31" and representatives Joseph Gullet and Kimberly New. The speaker reiterated urgency: "April 2 is the final day of the legislative session. Time matters. Stay engaged. Ask questions. Stand with us."

City staff and council members said they would continue outreach to the Paulding County commissioners and pursue outside legal advice. No formal legal action or vote was taken during the meeting; the remarks were presented as an update and a call to advocacy.

Next steps: the council member urged residents to contact the named state legislators and to follow the city's updates before the end of the legislative session.