GeorgiaHB 3042025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Local government; Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council; create

Sponsored By: Matt Barton (Republican), Joseph Gullett (Republican), Stan Gunter (Republican), Trey Kelley (Republican), Matt Reeves (Republican), Bill Yearta (Republican)

Signed by Governor

JudiciaryGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Senior status and savings for former judges

The law creates senior municipal court judge status for former Georgia judges with at least 10 total years of qualifying municipal court service. Applicants must no longer serve as municipal court judges. The Council of Municipal Court Judges president must approve or deny applications within 30 days. Applicants generally need required certification training, a Georgia law license, and active State Bar membership in good standing. Unlicensed former municipal court judges can apply if they meet the qualifications in Code Section 36-32-1.1. Appointed senior judges pay no support or registration fees for required certification training, but still pay other training costs. They receive the court-judge amenities and privileges accorded to municipal judges without having to serve in court. The law also waives subsection (b)'s requirements for receiving those privileges and preserves existing local senior-judge arrangements. Senior judges join current municipal judges on the statewide judges' council. That council can adopt governing rules and appoint officers; its executive committee has two representatives from each judicial administrative district.

New statewide council for municipal court staff

The law creates the Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council as a permanent state agency. Members include each municipal court's lead administrator, other than its judge, and that administrator's support staff. The council supports court staff, promotes training, and works to improve court operations and the administration of justice. It can adopt governing rules, elect officers and an executive committee, appoint advisory committees, and offer retirees nonvoting honorary membership. It can hire staff, make contracts, own property, and accept public or private funds, grants, and gifts. Administrative costs are paid from state money appropriated for that purpose and other appropriate sources; no funding amount is specified. Council membership does not count as holding a public office, and members can keep their municipal court staff positions.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Brian Strickland
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 381 • No: 4

House vote • 3/27/2026

Agree to Senate Substitute

Yes: 159 • No: 2 • Other: 8

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 51 • No: 0 • Other: 4

House vote • 3/4/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 171 • No: 2 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

Effective Date
7/1/2026
House Date Signed by Governor
5/12/2026House
Act 637
5/12/2026
House Sent to Governor
4/6/2026House
House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
3/27/2026House
Senate Third Read
3/25/2026Senate
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
3/25/2026Senate
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
3/20/2026Senate
Senate Recommitted
1/12/2026Senate
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
3/27/2025Senate
Senate Read Second Time
3/27/2025Senate
Senate Read and Referred
3/6/2025Senate
House Third Readers
3/4/2025House
House Passed/Adopted
3/4/2025House
House Committee Favorably Reported
2/26/2025House
House Second Readers
2/10/2025House
House First Readers
2/6/2025House
House Hopper
2/5/2025House

Bill Text

HB 304/AP* (v7)
PDF

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