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City of Hiram claims victory as SB 630 defeated

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Editor’s note: There was a typo in the headline for Senate Bill 630 that was corrected. -KtE

Good news for the City of Hiram: they’ll remain a municipality as legislation meant to put the city’s charter in jeopardy didn’t get a chance for a vote in the State Senate.

State Majority Leader and 31st District Senator Jason Anavitarte introduced legislation under the Gold Dome in the later days of the session seeking to force Hiram to get their financial house in order, or face losing its status as a city and the area be returned back to Paulding County’s jurisdiction.

The city held a meeting in March to discuss the challenge to the charter, and told residents that they were taking proactive steps to ensure that the city has necessary funds to continue operations. They were set to look at several options, but didn’t announce any particular plan for the future finances.

After the legislation was introduced, it went onto “read and referred” status and never made it out of committee and to the full floor for a vote. The House would have been required to pass it as well before it went to the Governor’s desk for a signature.

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Since it didn’t make it past the initial stage after the March 20 introduction, the city posted today their thanks to the community for reaching out to lawmakers to ensure Hiram remains incorporated. Here’s the full text of the posting from the city’s Facebook page on the afternoon of April 6:

“We want to share an important update with our community: SB 630, the legislation that would have dissolved the City of Hiram, did not pass. As a result, Hiram remains a city, and local decisions will continue to be shaped by the people who live and work here.

This outcome was made possible in large part because of the incredible engagement of our residents. We saw citizens attend meetings, contact legislators, ask thoughtful questions, and speak up for their community. Civic participation matters—and Hiram residents made their voices heard clearly and respectfully. Thank you for standing up for your city.

We also want to recognize and thank our city employees, who continued serving residents with professionalism and dedication throughout an uncertain and stressful time. Your commitment to this community does not go unnoticed, and we are deeply grateful for your hard work each and every day.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to working collaboratively with state leaders to address the challenges facing our city. This moment is an opportunity, and together, we will continue working to strengthen Hiram—now and for future generations.

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Thank you for being part of this community and for caring about Hiram.

Comments on the posting from the city in the meantime have been mixed – some congratulating the city, while others calling on officials to fix budget problems.

State Sen. Anavitarte was sought for comment but had not yet returned the query.

The City Council is set to hold their regular session for the month of April on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.


Speed cameras active for Dallas Elementary School


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A new set of speed cameras has police officials hoping that drivers will slow down when they are going through the area of Dallas Elementary School, per a release from the city department on Monday.

The new cameras put up around Dallas Elementary went active on Monday and a 30-day advanced notification period for driver’s traveling through the school zone on weekday mornings when school is in session for the start of the 2026-27 school year will be posted ahead of time as a reminder.

Cameras operating who spot drivers going 10+ miles an hour over the speed limit will be sent tickets via a partnership with RedSpeed to install and operate the new cameras.

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The department said it wasn’t meant to be a punitive measure against drivers, but hopes instead it’ll act as a preventative for speeders and get them to slow down and protect students and staff during peak hours when traffic is heavier.

“Driving above the posted speed limit in school zones puts pedestrians, especially young children, at a much greater risk of serious harm,” the release from the department noted.

The cameras will be looking for drivers 1 hour before the start of the school day, an hour after the first bell, then an hour before and an hour after dismissal on weekdays.

Signage is also being installed to warn drivers of cameras and encourage them to slow down before reaching the school district.

Those who are caught speeding will be mailed citations after the release promises that a “thorough review” of any citations before they are sent.

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