All Roll Calls
Yes: 211 • No: 0
GeorgiaHB 9662025-2026 Regular SessionHouse
Garden City, City of; mayor to fill any vacancy in the office of mayor pro tempore; provide
Sponsored By: Carl Gilliard (Democrat), Bill Hitchens (Republican), Edna Jackson (Democrat), Ron Stephens (Republican), Anne Allen Westbrook (Democrat)
Signed by Governor
Intragovernmental CoordinationState and Local Governmental OperationsLocal Bill
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Council picks president and first meeting
After each regular election, the city council holds its organization meeting at the first regular meeting after new members take the oath. The council elects a president from members other than the mayor and mayor pro tempore, by a majority of all members. The president serves a two-year term and serves until a successor is elected and qualified. The president only fills in as mayor when both the mayor and mayor pro tempore are unavailable and never becomes mayor if the mayor’s office is vacant. If the president leaves early, the council fills the post by majority vote at any regular meeting.
Garden City mayoral succession clarified
Garden City elects its mayor citywide for a four-year term. When a new mayor is elected, the mayor appoints one council member as mayor pro tempore for four years and until a successor is qualified. If that office becomes vacant, the mayor fills it. The mayor pro tempore acts as mayor during any absence or disability of the mayor and has only one vote on council matters. If the mayor’s office becomes vacant, the mayor pro tempore becomes mayor for the rest of the term. This citywide, four-year mayor term has applied since November 8, 2011.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Carl Gilliard
Democrat • House
Bill Hitchens
Republican • House
Edna Jackson
Democrat • House
Ron Stephens
Republican • House
Anne Allen Westbrook
Democrat • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR
Yes: 53 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2026
Local Calendar
Yes: 158 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
House Sent to Governor
4/2/2026HouseHouse Date Signed by Governor
4/2/2026HouseAct 376
4/2/2026Senate Committee Favorably Reported
2/24/2026SenateSenate Passed/Adopted
2/24/2026SenateSenate Read and Referred
2/17/2026SenateHouse Committee Favorably Reported
2/12/2026HouseHouse Third Readers
2/12/2026HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
2/12/2026HouseHouse Second Readers
1/16/2026HouseHouse First Readers
1/15/2026HouseHouse Hopper
1/14/2026House
Bill Text
HB 966/AP* (v4)
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