GA HB1597

Establishes a new charter for the City of Canton, Georgia (Cherokee County), replacing the 1922 incorporation act and a 2005 charter ordinance, both repealed in their entirety

Creates a governing authority composed of a mayor and six councilmembers, all elected at-large to four-year terms from three wards, with candidates required to be U.S. citizens at least 21 years old and city residents for 12 months prior to election

Designates the mayor as chief executive officer with veto power over ordinances (overridable by four council votes), power to nominate the city manager, city attorney, city clerk, and members of boards/commissions (subject to council approval), and authority to suspend the city manager until the next council meeting

Establishes a city manager as chief administrative officer responsible for day-to-day operations, with a $20,000 purchasing limit without council approval, and requires submission of annual operating and capital budgets 75 days before the fiscal year (October 1–September 30)

Provides for a Municipal Court with judges appointed by the city council for two-year terms, a code enforcement court, nonpartisan biennial elections in odd-numbered years, emergency ordinance procedures (auto-repealed after 90 days), and franchise grants limited to 35 years