Committee approves bill allowing Fulton cities to opt out of county development‑authority abatements

Representative Robert Dawson told the House Government Affairs Committee HB 13‑86 is designed to give cities in Fulton County an option — not a mandate — to control property‑tax abatements in their municipal boundaries by passing a local resolution to opt out of county development‑authority oversight.

"This bill will allow all 15 cities, not just the six that already have this right, to choose to opt out of the Fulton County Development Authority oversight," Dawson said, framing the measure as a tool of local control and optionality rather than a statewide mandate.

City officials from South Fulton and other municipalities testified in favor. Councilwoman Linda Pritchett said she had personally talked with several mayors and that South Fulton had recently learned about millions in county‑approved abatements after the fact. "We were not aware of it — I found out about it on the news," Pritchett said, arguing the city should have had an early role negotiating community benefits for major projects.

Ashley Dana Tucker Davis, vice chair of the South Fulton Development Authority, told the committee the city and its development authorities need the ability to negotiate incentives and community benefits directly: "When the county comes in and gives these tax abatements without our knowledge, we do not get the opportunity to require a city benefit."

Develop Fulton and other countywide advocates urged caution. Sarah Elizabeth Langford, executive director of Develop Fulton (the Fulton County development authority), said the bill "threatens to put that at risk" by requiring additional municipal approvals and complicating a countywide approach that officials say attracts large statewide and national investments. Langford said her authority had recently approved a major project and emphasized that countywide collaboration with cities is how the authority wins large deals.

Committee members debated notice to affected mayors, whether the bill was permissive or mandatory (the author and several supporters repeatedly described it as permissive), and whether local officials had adequate time and information about the measure. Several speakers said this was a continuation of a policy enacted for northern Fulton County last year and that HB 13‑86 extends the option to central and southern Fulton.

The committee moved to a voice vote after public testimony. Members approved passage of HB 13‑86 by voice vote that closed the hearing; the bill was reported out of committee.

What’s next: HB 13‑86 passed the House Government Affairs Committee and would proceed through the legislative process for further consideration.