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GeorgiaHB 1602025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Carroll County; State Court; provide additional judge

Sponsored By: Justin Howard (Republican), David Huddleston (Republican), Tyler Paul Smith (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Intragovernmental CoordinationState and Local Governmental OperationsLocal Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Carroll County funds judges and secretaries

Beginning July 1, 2025, each Carroll County State Court judge receives 90% of a Carroll County Superior Court judge’s salary. This calculation excludes supplements paid to the Superior Court judge by counties in the West Georgia Judicial Circuit. County funds pay judges in equal monthly installments. Each judge may choose and hire a secretary, paid at least $14,750 yearly from county funds. Higher secretary pay requires approval from the county governing authority.

Carroll County adds a full-time judge

Beginning July 1, 2025, Carroll County State Court has two judges, who must work full-time and cannot practice law privately. The sitting judge becomes chief judge and keeps serving through the current term until an elected successor qualifies. The Governor’s appointment authority takes effect upon approval or the act becoming law without approval. The first added judge serves from July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026, and until an elected successor qualifies. County voters elect that successor in a 2026 nonpartisan election for January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2030. Future successors are elected before current terms end, in nonpartisan general elections without a nonpartisan primary. They begin four-year terms on January 1 after election, and all judges continue until their successors are elected and qualified.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Justin Howard

    Republican • House

  • David Huddleston

    Republican • House

  • Tyler Paul Smith

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 212 • No: 2

Senate vote • 2/12/2025

LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR

Yes: 52 • No: 1 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/5/2025

Local Calendar

Yes: 160 • No: 1 • Other: 14

Actions Timeline

  1. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  2. Act 197

    5/13/2025

  3. Effective Date

    5/13/2025

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/7/2025House

  5. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    2/12/2025Senate

  6. Senate Passed/Adopted

    2/12/2025Senate

  7. Senate Read and Referred

    2/6/2025Senate

  8. House Committee Favorably Reported

    2/5/2025House

  9. House Third Readers

    2/5/2025House

  10. House Passed/Adopted

    2/5/2025House

  11. House Second Readers

    1/30/2025House

  12. House First Readers

    1/29/2025House

  13. House Hopper

    1/28/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 160/AP* (v4)

    PDF

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