COLUMBUS, Ga. - Columbus leaders have handed the city's state lawmakers a list of nine things they want from the Georgia General Assembly in 2027. The requests range from state money for any switch to paper ballots to higher pay for the Muscogee County probate judge and new reporting rules for short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO. City officials walked the local legislative delegation through the list on Oct. 29 at the 19th annual Hometown Connection Legislative Agenda Meeting in the Sycamore Room at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center.

Each request is written as a council resolution asking the delegation to introduce or support a bill. Columbus Council approved six of them Oct. 13, according to the meeting's summary minutes. Three more, all carried over from earlier years, were on the council's Oct. 27 agenda, and the summary for that meeting had not been posted as of Oct. 30.

The 9 requests at a glance

Source: Columbus Council agenda packets for Oct. 13 and Oct. 27, 2026.

Paying for a new voting system

The election request asks lawmakers to amend state law so that counties and boards of elections get money for "any and all additional expenses of moving to any elections system including paper ballots statewide in Georgia." The city's explanation says the General Assembly "has had discussions of moving to a statewide elections system which would include the use of paper ballots." The resolution takes no position on whether Georgia should change systems and asks only that the state pay for any change.

Tucker, who represents District 4, told WTVM that a change would be "a huge, heavy load for our budget, so we're asking for the state to provide funding." Local elections are run by the Muscogee County Board of Elections and Registration, whose executive director is appointed by Columbus Council. Unlike three other items on the list, this request is not marked in the agenda packet as a carry-over from earlier years.

Probate judge pay

The probate court request would create a local law setting the Muscogee County probate judge's salary at no less than 90% of the state base salary, plus any locality pay, of superior court judges in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. A full-time associate probate judge would be paid as the probate judge recommends and the council approves, but no less than 90% of the probate judge's base salary. Under current state law, probate judges' minimum salaries are set by a formula based on county population, and counties can add a local supplement.

The city's explanation says the job "requires the same level of legal experience as a superior court judge." It says the probate judge's salary "is significantly less than the Muscogee State and Superior Court Judges as well as the Clerk of the Superior Court." The packet does not list current salaries or estimate what the change would cost.

Paramedics, rescue teams and 911

Two of the new requests come from Fire-EMS Chief Salvatore J. Scarpa. The first asks for "predictable, recurring" state support for Georgia search and rescue teams, covering training, certifications, equipment maintenance and replacement. It also asks for state funding opportunities for drones, robotics and other technology used in searches, rescues and incident assessment.

The second asks for steady funding and insurance reimbursement for mobile integrated health care and community paramedicine. Those programs send paramedics to treat patients where they are, including care that does not require an ambulance ride, and connect them with medical and behavioral health services. The resolution asks state health agencies and Medicaid care management organizations to clarify existing coverage, address gaps and consider demonstration programs.

The 911 request repeats a priority from last year. It asks the delegation to back the positions of ACCG, the statewide association of county governments, on Next Generation 911, which include more state money for the system, higher 911 fees on phone bills to help counties upgrade and support for the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority. Separately, one of three proposed constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 statewide ballot would create a dedicated Next Generation 911 fund using the existing $1.50 monthly 911 fee, according to WTVM.

Short-term rental taxes

The city regulates short-term vacation rentals through a local permit, and owners owe state sales tax and city taxes, including the hotel-motel tax. Some owners pay the taxes themselves, while others rely on booking platforms that collect and remit taxes on their behalf, according to the resolution. The city wants state law amended so those "marketplace innkeepers" must report the address and sales information for the properties they collect taxes on.

City finance officials say the change would let them confirm when taxes for a particular property have been paid. The request was submitted by the mayor, the city manager and the finance director. The agenda item says the city "is expected to receive additional revenues if many of the issues are passed."

Carried over from previous years

Three items have been on the city's list before. One would rewrite the conflict-of-interest section of Georgia's Redevelopment Powers Law, which the city says bars any city employee, even one with no role in a Tax Allocation District, from voluntarily buying property in a district. The proposed change would instead require officials with a direct ownership interest in a property seeking redevelopment money to disclose it in writing and stay out of the vote.

Another asks lawmakers to oppose any bill that would stop local governments from regulating retail pet sales, which the city says could shield "puppy mills." The third would amend the Open Meetings Act so local boards and commissions could meet by phone or video in non-emergency situations, as long as the public can hear, see and take part. State agencies can already meet by teleconference, according to the resolution.

What happens next

District 5 Councilor Charmaine Crabb described some of the items to WTVM as "repeat things that did not get all the way through." State Rep. Teddy Reese told the station that a property tax bill considered at the Capitol would have cut more than $100 million from Muscogee County's revenue had it passed. State lawmaker Carmen Rice said the Oct. 29 gathering was an organizational session, and the delegation will meet later to decide which lawmakers will carry each request.

The General Assembly convenes in January. Last year's Hometown Connection list was led by a request to raise the homestead exemption for residents 65 and older from $21,500 to $30,000, WTVM reported in October 2025. Requests on the list become law only if a bill is introduced, passes both chambers and is signed by the governor.

Where to find more information

Council agendas, packets and minutes are posted on the City of Columbus meetings portal. City news releases are on the Columbus Consolidated Government news page. Bills filed in the 2027 session will be searchable on the Georgia General Assembly website.