East Paulding High School reporters Madison Thompson and Xitlali Ramirez-Hernandez explore community reactions to Senate Bill 630, which would have dissolved the City of Hiram and shifted services to county control.

East Paulding High School reporters Madison Thompson and Xitlali Ramirez-Hernandez explore community reactions to Senate Bill 630, which would have dissolved the City of Hiram and shifted services to county control. 

In late March, the City of Hiram was set to be dissolved under Senate Bill 630 without requiring a vote by local representatives.

Originally called Gray’s Mill, the city of Hiram, located in Paulding County, was founded around 1849 as a rural railroad town and has since evolved into a major commercial corridor for the county.

However, Sen. Jason Anavitarte of the 31st district proposed SB 630 to dissolve the government due to concerns about the city's financial condition and long-term viability, even though Hiram was improving.

On April 2, 2026, SB 630 failed to pass, but its initial introduction raised significant concerns within the community about the underlying tensions it would have created.

A close-up shot shows City Councilwoman Melissa Bayardelle during an interview, wearing a black blazer and white top, with framed photos and a red suit visible in the background.

City Councilwoman Melissa Bayardelle discusses the bill that would have stripped 5,200 Hiram residents of their local representation.

“Hiram would have been impacted in several ways,” said City Councilwoman Melissa Bayardelle.

Bayardelle, who represents the city’s residents, said she was confused about the bill and would have been unable to help and represent the residents of Hiram.

“One of those ways would have been our dedicated employees. We have 60-plus employees whose livelihoods depend on this, their career, and the preservation of our city.”

“We have 5,200 people that we represent. Those 5,200 people who have voted for their electives, for their local leaders, would have lost their voice to have a local leader, and they would have to vote for the county level.”

Bayardelle said she questioned the bill’s timing and purpose. Most of Hiram’s local government was unaware of this bill, relying only on rumors and speculation until they consulted their representatives, who confirmed its existence. The purpose of this bill was mostly to address the financial situation in Hiram, but it's nothing compared to the consequences of the dissolution of the local government.

A close-up shot shows Hiram Police Chief Michael Turner during an interview, wearing a black uniform shirt with a police badge, with a red suit in the background.

Hiram Police Chief Michael Turner speaks on the impact SB 630 would have had on public safety in one of Georgia's safest cities.

“It would have been a major concern to the citizens,” Hiram Police Chief Michael Turner said. “We have a great department of highly trained officers per year, and we would lose those officers.”

Without his and the officers' support, the removal of public safety in Hiram would leave the city without the essential services that contribute to its reputation as one of the safest cities in Georgia.

“It takes almost a year by the time they finish their field training after the academy," Turner said. "So, you can imagine, since we only get about five to six slots every session, how long it's going to take to train 60 officers, because you have to replace the original 30 and then replace the 30 that are here.”

SB 630 would affect everyone in Paulding County, including other City of Hiram services.

A close-up shot shows a large, blue plastic waste bin featuring a white printed seal of "The City of Hiram" on its side, surrounded by outdoor greenery.

A City of Hiram waste bin bears the city's seal — "History, Heritage, Hope" — representing the municipal services that would have been lost under SB 630.

“As a Paulding County resident, our millage rate does not include the services Hiram pays for currently in this city, such as public safety, roads, and code enforcement, to mention a few," said Melissa Chosewood, Hiram’s city clerk. "So, if you take those out and you have to add them back at the county level, then your millage rate is going up at the county level. Which millage rate is equivalent to an increase in property tax? So, you increase property taxes there. So as a Paulding County resident, I would then be paying for Hiram.”

Chosewood expressed disappointment that the city learned of the bill through the newspaper rather than directly from state representatives.

“I definitely would have been very confused, and I probably would have been a little upset,” said Leah Smith.

Smith is an eleventh-grader at East Paulding High School who resides in Hiram.

“No, I definitely don’t think so because Hiram is growing so rapidly, and there are so many people that already live in Hiram versus, like, the Dallas area.”

When asked about Hiram's progress, Smith said, “I think Hiram is doing very well. There are a lot of things being added, like Georgia's first Day Bright, so obviously we're doing pretty well.”

“I heard that some taxes would be going up, so we'd have to pay more taxes in Hiram,” said Meghan Marshall.

Marshall is a senior at East Paulding High School who resides in Hiram.

“I feel like Hiram is like the main part of Paulding County. Like we have everything. We have all the good stores. And I feel like dissolving Hiram wouldn’t make much sense, because where is all that stuff going to go?

Marshall and Smith were not the only residents concerned about the bill. The amended bill would have transferred responsibilities to Paulding County, creating numerous problems, including the loss of local representation and the removal of employees and politicians from the local government.

The results of SB 630 passing under the Golden Dome would be felt by city employees, first responders, and taxpayers, which would have put an end to nearly a century of Hiram representation.

“Thankfully, our community came together, and we were able to successfully kill the bill for this legislative session,” Bayardelle said.

A close-up shot shows a large black historical marker for The Hiram Rosenwald School, with white text detailing its history, set against an outdoor background of green trees.

The Georgia Historical Society marker outside the Hiram Rosenwald School, which operated as the only African-American school with a library in Paulding County from 1930-1955.

Bayardelle said she hopes communication between state representatives and the city will improve, so the state can better understand Hiram’s value to the region – to understand what Hiram truly is.