The cities of Habersham County gathered for a joint meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the potential for opting in to House Bill 581 (HB 581), a new law that offers local governments the choice to either opt in or opt out.
The law includes specific requirements for opting out, including the necessity to advertise and hold three public hearings, pass a resolution, and submit documentation to the Secretary of State’s office by March 1.
The meeting, which drew over 50 elected officials, city managers, and citizens, provided a platform for discussion about the law’s implications. Most of the cities had a quorum present in case they decided to pass a resolution to opt in.
Phil Sutton of Sutton Consulting, LLC gave an informative presentation to the group, providing crucial information and answering questions regarding HB 581.
Following the presentation, the city officials began to discuss how best to move forward with the new law. Baldwin Mayor Stephanie Almagno led the conversation, seeking consensus among the cities about who would choose to opt in. Baldwin’s council made a decision to opt in, passing a resolution during the meeting that demonstrated their support for the new law.
With the exception of Tallulah Falls, all of the cities in attendance committed to opting in to HB 581. The Cornelia delegation, however, indicated that they would only opt in if all other cities made the same commitment. Cornelia had already held one public hearing in accordance with the requirements.
HB 581 was approved by a significant majority—65%—of Habersham County voters in the November 2024 election, further shaping the conversation among local officials.
The cities will continue to deliberate and finalize their decisions as the March 1 deadline approaches.
Stay tuned to Now Habersham for updates on this developing story.
