# Georgia HB 180: Probate courts; modify certain requirements for probate judges

Georgia HB 180, Probate courts; modify certain requirements for probate judges, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Stacey Evans (Democrat), Stan Gunter (Republican), Soo Hong (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2025-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB180-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 180
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Probate courts; modify certain requirements for probate judges
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-29
- Last action: 2025-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: Stacey Evans (Democrat), Stan Gunter (Republican), Soo Hong (Republican), Trey Kelley (Republican), Mitchell Scoggins (Republican), Tyler Paul Smith (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (219 yes, 2 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stricter probate judge rules with incumbent protections: mixed, low. The law adds probate judge requirements in Georgia counties with more than 90,000 people under the 2010 or future decennial census. The county's probate court must also meet the definition in Article 6 of Georgia's probate court law. When qualifying, candidates must be at least 30 and have been adm…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Stacey Evans (Democrat), House
- Sponsor: Stan Gunter (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Soo Hong (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Trey Kelley (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Mitchell Scoggins (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Tyler Paul Smith (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Bo Hatchett (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-02 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 48 | 2 | 3 |
| 2025-03-04 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 171 | 0 | 4 |

## Actions (15)

- 2025-07-01: Effective Date
- 2025-05-14: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-05-14: Act 253
- 2025-04-08: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-02: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2025-03-11: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: House Third Readers (House)
- 2025-03-04: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2025-02-04: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2025-02-03: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-01-30: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-01-29: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 180/AP* (v3): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/239060)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [HB 180/AP* (v3) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/239060)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB180-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).