Senators John Albers, Jason T. Dickerson and Kay Kirkpatrick Reaffirm Support for House Bill 1029 Following Holly Springs Lawsuit

ATLANTA (July 22, 2026) - This week, Senators John Albers (R-Roswell), Jason T. Dickerson (R-Canton) and Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta) issued the following statements regarding the City of Holly Springs' lawsuit over House Bill 1029.

Background:

Over the past several years, Cherokee County has experienced significant residential and commercial growth, bringing increased attention to municipal boundaries, infrastructure and future development. In 2022, local governments throughout Cherokee County entered into a growth boundary agreement intended to provide greater certainty regarding future annexation and development. As questions continued to arise surrounding annexation in and around the City of Holly Springs, members of the Cherokee County legislative delegation met with residents and local officials on numerous occasions to hear concerns and discuss potential solutions.

Those discussions ultimately led to the introduction and passage of House Bill 1029 during the 2026 Legislative Session. Gov. Brian P. Kemp signed the legislation into law on May 12, 2026. Following the bill's enactment, the City of Holly Springs filed a lawsuit alleging that House Bill 1029 is unconstitutional.

Statements from the Cherokee County Senate Delegation:

"House Bill 1029 was the result of months of collaboration among the Cherokee County legislative delegation, local leaders and residents who voiced concerns about the city's annexation policies and the direction of future growth," said Sen. Albers. "After hearing from hundreds of citizens and carefully considering the issues before us, the General Assembly acted to amend the city's charter through the legislative process. I remain confident in the work that was done and appreciative of my colleagues who worked together to advance legislation we believed was in the best interest of our community.

It is deeply disappointing that, rather than continuing to work collaboratively with the delegation and local officials, the City of Holly Springs has chosen to challenge this law in court. That decision will require additional taxpayer dollars from both the city and the state to litigate a matter that could have been addressed through continued dialogue and cooperation. As someone who has always believed government should be a responsible steward of taxpayer resources, I cannot support spending public dollars on unnecessary legal battles when those funds could instead be directed toward serving citizens.

I am hopeful that, moving forward, we can return to the spirit of cooperation that has long existed throughout Cherokee County. Our residents deserve local and state leaders who work together to solve problems, respect the legislative process and stay focused on what is in the best interest of the people we serve."

Sen. Dickerson added, "It is unfortunate that this issue has reached the courts after the thoughtful work that went into HB 1029. This bill came about because people in Cherokee County made it clear they wanted their concerns heard. I was proud to support legislation that responded to those concerns, and I believe our responsibility is to continue putting the interests of our constituents first."

Sen. Kirkpatrick concluded, "HB 1029 reflects the General Assembly's responsibility to address matters affecting local governments when circumstances call for legislative action. I supported this measure alongside my colleagues in the Cherokee County delegation, and I continue to believe it represents a balanced approach that puts the community first. My hope is that this matter is resolved promptly so everyone can return their focus to serving the people of Cherokee County."

About House Bill 1029:

House Bill 1029 amends the charter of the City of Holly Springs by revising the city's corporate boundaries, updating city council district boundaries, expanding the city council from five members to six members and establishing four-year terms for council members, along with making other conforming changes to the city's governing structure. Gov. Kemp signed the legislation into law on May 12, 2026, and it took effect upon his signature.

More information about HB 1029, including the full text of the legislation, can be found here.

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Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56^th Senate District, which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and Fulton counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 463-8055 or by email at [email protected].

Sen. Jason T. Dickerson represents the 21^st Senate District, which includes portions of Cherokee and Fulton counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 463-1378 or by email at [email protected].

Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick serves as Majority Caucus Secretary and Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Children and Families. She represents the 32^nd Senate District, which includes portions of Cherokee and Cobb counties. She may be reached by phone at (404) 463-2518 or by email at [email protected].

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