# Georgia HB 55: Alapaha Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for an additional judge

Georgia HB 55, Alapaha Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for an additional judge, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by James Burchett (Republican), Chas Cannon (Republican), John Corbett (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2025-05-13 (House Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB55-2025-2026
- 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 55
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Alapaha Judicial Circuit; superior courts; provide for an additional judge
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-14
- Last action: 2025-05-13, House Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsors: James Burchett (Republican), Chas Cannon (Republican), John Corbett (Republican), Chuck Efstration (Republican), Jaclyn Ford (Republican), Stan Gunter (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (383 yes, 2 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Alapaha courts gain a third judge: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, the Alapaha Judicial Circuit has three superior court judges instead of two. The Governor's appointment authority takes effect when the act becomes law. The appointed judge's term runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, and continues until a successor qualif…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: James Burchett (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Chas Cannon (Republican), House
- Sponsor: John Corbett (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Chuck Efstration (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Jaclyn Ford (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Stan Gunter (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Russ Goodman (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-25 | House | Agree to Senate Substitute | pass | 166 | 0 | 9 |
| 2025-03-20 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 51 | 1 |   |
| 2025-02-12 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 166 | 1 | 6 |

## Actions (18)

- 2025-05-13: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-05-13: Act 171
- 2025-05-13: Effective Date
- 2025-04-07: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2025-03-25: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- 2025-03-20: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2025-03-20: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2025-03-11: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-02-13: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-02-12: House Third Readers (House)
- 2025-02-12: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2025-02-04: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2025-01-30: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- 2025-01-29: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2025-01-16: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-01-15: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-01-14: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 55/AP* (v8): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/237189)

## 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 55/AP* (v8) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/237189)

## 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-HB55-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).