A bill introduced in the Georgia House by state Rep. Robert Dickey is set to create a new charter and bolster local government powers for Yatesville, according to the Georgia State House.
Filed as HB1205 on Thursday, Feb. 5, during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, the bill is officially titled: ’Yatesville, City of; provide new charter’.
Below is an overview compiled from the original bill language, with some interpretation provided to clarify its scope.
This measure would establish a thorough replacement charter for the City of Yatesville, formally reincorporating it. The city would maintain its established boundaries and be awarded broad home rule authority. Its government would consist of a mayor and five councilmembers elected at large, each serving 4-year terms. Provisions cover rules for filling vacancies, ethical guidelines, operating procedures for meetings and voting, and empower the body to enact ordinances and emergency rules. The bill creates municipal offices and boards, a municipal court with specific authority and penalties, and outlines financial administration including taxation, fees, bonds, budgeting, procurement, and property management. The effective date is July 1, 2026.
Since the start of the session, Dickey has sponsored nine other measures, with five having been enacted.
Dickey earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in 1976.
A Republican, Dickey was elected to the state House in 2025 representing the 134th House District, succeeding David Knight in that seat.
In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a legislator, often after receiving a request from a constituent, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft proposed legislation. The bill is then submitted to the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate for its initial reading and referral to committee, where most deliberation and fact-finding occurs. Upon committee approval, the bill advances to the floor for its third reading, legislative debate, and vote. To be enacted, it must pass both chambers—sometimes requiring a conference committee to reconcile differences—before heading to the governor’s desk. The governor has six days during the session or 40 days following adjournment (Sine Die) to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without signature. The Georgia General Assembly’s regular session runs 40 days each year, starting the second Monday in January.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| HB1133 | 02/02/2026 | Georgia Environmental Finance Authority; finance and perform certain duties in connection with projects related to facilitating solar installations on closed landfills; authorize |
| HB817 | 03/21/2025 | Georgia Meat Transparency and Source Verification Act; enact |
| HB785 | 03/18/2025 | Crawford County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee |
| HB781 | 03/18/2025 | Crawford County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee |
| HB778 | 03/18/2025 | Upson County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee |
| HB495 | 02/18/2025 | Education; Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation; repeal; provide for Georgia Rural Development Council |
| HB249 | 02/04/2025 | Public utilities; solar power facility agreements; revise provisions |
| HB227 | 02/04/2025 | Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act; enact |
| HB143 | 01/28/2025 | Water resources; water-measuring devices for farm use of surface and ground water; revise provisions |
Details for this article were drawn from the Georgia State House. Access the source data here.
