All Roll Calls
Yes: 186 • No: 92
GeorgiaHB 4262025-2026 Regular SessionHouse
Courts; nonpartisan election of magistrates; provide
Sponsored By: James Burchett (Republican), Chuck Efstration (Republican), Kimberly New (Republican), Holt Persinger (Republican), Mitchell Scoggins (Republican), Tyler Paul Smith (Republican)
Became Law
JudiciaryEthicsGeneral Bill
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Judicial races on nonpartisan ballots
Nonpartisan elections for judges and magistrates run with the general primary in even-numbered years. Candidate names go on the nonpartisan part of the ballot. Parties and petitions do not nominate these candidates. For local offices already set by local law to use nonpartisan primaries, the separate nonpartisan primary is removed. Those offices are elected in a single nonpartisan election held with the general primary. These changes take effect July 1, 2025.
Most changes start 2025; more 2027
Most of the law takes effect July 1, 2025. A later section starts January 1, 2027 only if voters approve a state constitutional change to make probate judge elections nonpartisan. If that amendment is not approved, this Act repeals itself. Where there is a conflict at ratification, this Act and the amendment control. All conflicting laws are repealed to the extent of the conflict.
New nonpartisan rules for magistrates
County voters elect the chief magistrate at the general election before the term ends. The term starts on January 1 after the election and runs four years. Other magistrates are appointed by the chief magistrate with consent of superior court judges. Their terms line up with the chief magistrate’s term. Starting July 1, 2025, no local law can set partisan elections for any magistrate.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
James Burchett
Republican • House
Chuck Efstration
Republican • House
Kimberly New
Republican • House
Holt Persinger
Republican • House
Mitchell Scoggins
Republican • House
Tyler Paul Smith
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Rick Williams
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/21/2025
MOTION TO ENGROSS: HB 266, HB 426
Yes: 32 • No: 22
Senate vote • 3/21/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 43 • No: 11
House vote • 3/4/2025
PASSAGE
Yes: 111 • No: 59
Actions Timeline
Effective Date
7/1/2025House Date Signed by Governor
5/14/2025HouseAct 302
5/14/2025House Sent to Governor
4/7/2025HouseSenate Engrossed
3/21/2025SenateSenate Third Read
3/21/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted
3/21/2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
3/18/2025SenateSenate Committee Favorably Reported
3/13/2025SenateSenate Read and Referred
3/6/2025SenateHouse Third Readers
3/4/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
3/4/2025HouseHouse Committee Favorably Reported
2/21/2025HouseHouse Withdrawn, Recommitted
2/19/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
2/18/2025HouseHouse First Readers
2/13/2025HouseHouse Hopper
2/12/2025House
Bill Text
HB 426/AP* (v3)
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