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GeorgiaHB 552025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Alapaha Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for an additional judge

Sponsored By: James Burchett (Republican), Chas Cannon (Republican), John Corbett (Republican), Chuck Efstration (Republican), Jaclyn Ford (Republican), Stan Gunter (Republican)

Signed by Governor

JudiciaryGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Smoother court operations with more judges

Judges share equal authority to hear cases and run court terms. Official papers can issue in any judge’s name and remain valid. Any judge can draw and impanel grand, petit, or special jurors, including for cases before several judges at once. Judges may set and change local practice rules and divide work; a majority rules, and if tied, the senior judge decides.

Counties must fund added court support

County governments in the circuit must provide courtrooms, offices, phones, furniture, equipment, supplies, and needed staff. These costs are superior court expenses paid from each county’s treasury. Judges may hire one additional court reporter for the circuit, with pay set by law.

New judge for Alapaha and elections

The law adds a third superior court judge for the Alapaha Judicial Circuit. The Governor appoints the first judge to serve January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028. Voters elect a successor in the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election, who takes office January 1, 2029, for a four‑year term. All future successors serve four‑year terms and start January 1 after the election. Candidates must choose a specific seat and name the incumbent, or qualify for a seat with no incumbent. The new judge meets the same qualifications, has the same powers, and gets the same pay and expense allowances, including any county supplements, as other superior court judges.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • James Burchett

    Republican • House

  • Chas Cannon

    Republican • House

  • John Corbett

    Republican • House

  • Chuck Efstration

    Republican • House

  • Jaclyn Ford

    Republican • House

  • Stan Gunter

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Russ Goodman

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 383 • No: 2

House vote • 3/25/2025

Agree to Senate Substitute

Yes: 166 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/20/2025

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 51 • No: 1

House vote • 2/12/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 166 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  2. Act 171

    5/13/2025

  3. Effective Date

    5/13/2025

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/7/2025House

  5. House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub

    3/25/2025House

  6. Senate Third Read

    3/20/2025Senate

  7. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    3/20/2025Senate

  8. Senate Read Second Time

    3/13/2025Senate

  9. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    3/11/2025Senate

  10. Senate Read and Referred

    2/13/2025Senate

  11. House Third Readers

    2/12/2025House

  12. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

    2/12/2025House

  13. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

    2/4/2025House

  14. House Withdrawn, Recommitted

    1/30/2025House

  15. House Committee Favorably Reported

    1/29/2025House

  16. House Second Readers

    1/16/2025House

  17. House First Readers

    1/15/2025House

  18. House Hopper

    1/14/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 55/AP* (v8)

    PDF

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