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GeorgiaHB 10202025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Judicial Retirement System; payment of monthly retirement benefits for creditable service as a district attorney at the age of 65 years; provide

Sponsored By: Chuck Efstration (Republican), Stan Gunter (Republican), Trey Kelley (Republican), Rob Leverett (Republican), Matt Reeves (Republican), Tyler Paul Smith (Republican)

Signed by Governor

RetirementRulesGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Some judicial retirement credit waits until 65

This rule covers people first joining Georgia’s Judicial Retirement System on or after July 1, 2026. For retirement before age 65, the monthly benefit calculation excludes district attorney and superior court judge service. At age 65, that service counts in the full benefit calculation. The rule does not replace the system’s retirement eligibility requirements.

Assistant district attorneys get salary floors

Beginning July 1, 2026, assistant district attorney annual salary floors are $78,000 for level I and $93,082 for level II. The floors are $111,562 for level III and $134,291 for level IV. Existing maximums remain 65% of district attorney compensation for level I, 70% for level II, and 80% for level III. The law specifies no percentage maximum for level IV.

Some public workers lose automatic raises

Beginning July 1, 2026, existing local rules linking public workers’ pay increases to district attorney compensation are suspended. Affected pay stays at its starting level unless lawfully changed or the pause ends; new local rules adopted afterward are not suspended. For judges, the pause ends July 1, 2027, with changes applying only going forward. For other covered officers, officials, and employees, the pause continues unless their compensation is modified; no back pay is owed for the paused period. Circuit public defenders paid under the law’s specified pay provision are excluded.

District attorney pay faces new caps

Beginning July 1, 2026, the state budget sets district attorney salaries, with an 88% statutory-base cap except for the law’s compensation-option exception. Counties may offer locality pay to district attorneys not in office on that date or incumbents choosing the new plan. This replaces earlier county salary supplements and is capped at the lower of 10% of state salary or $20,608.05. Above a $206,805 state salary, the maximum falls by half the excess. Qualifying solicitor contracts and specified statutory services remain eligible for separate supplements; electing incumbents may also receive supplements preventing a pay drop, but not raising total pay above their pre-election amount.

District attorneys can choose new pay

District attorneys and interim district attorneys in office on July 1, 2026, can choose state salary plus eligible county locality pay. They must file a written election with the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and each county’s governing authority by January 1, 2030. The choice cannot be reversed and starts with the pay period beginning five business days after the election. Without an election, their old pay rules continue; protected retirement benefits do not decrease. District attorneys receiving the state salary under the new plan cannot practice law privately.

Counties can boost district attorney pensions

Counties may count district attorney locality pay toward retirement benefits where other law allows it. Counties do not have to offer this benefit. Retirement benefits and rights that existed before July 1, 2026, remain protected.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Chuck Efstration

    Republican • House

  • Stan Gunter

    Republican • House

  • Trey Kelley

    Republican • House

  • Rob Leverett

    Republican • House

  • Matt Reeves

    Republican • House

  • Tyler Paul Smith

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Bo Hatchett

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 296 • No: 74

House vote • 3/25/2026

Agree to Senate Substitute

Yes: 100 • No: 55 • Other: 6

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 32 • No: 19 • Other: 3

House vote • 2/19/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 164 • No: 0 • Other: 11

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective Date

    7/1/2026

  2. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/12/2026House

  3. Act 716

    5/12/2026

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/6/2026House

  5. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

    3/25/2026House

  6. Senate Third Read

    3/23/2026Senate

  7. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/23/2026Senate

  8. Senate Notice to Reconsider

    3/23/2026Senate

  9. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/18/2026Senate

  10. Senate Third Read

    3/12/2026Senate

  11. Senate Recommitted

    3/12/2026Senate

  12. Senate Read Second Time

    3/9/2026Senate

  13. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/6/2026Senate

  14. Senate Read and Referred

    2/20/2026Senate

  15. House Third Readers

    2/19/2026House

  16. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    2/19/2026House

  17. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/12/2026House

  18. House Second Readers

    1/29/2026House

  19. House First Readers

    1/28/2026House

  20. House Hopper

    1/27/2026House

Bill Text

  • HB 1020/AP* (v15)

    PDF

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