# Georgia HR 251: Local government; probate judges shall be elected in nonpartisan elections; provide - CA

Georgia HR 251, Local government; probate judges shall be elected in nonpartisan elections; provide - CA, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by James Burchett (Republican), Chuck Efstration (Republican), Kimberly New (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HR251-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HR 251
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Local government; probate judges shall be elected in nonpartisan elections; provide - CA
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-02-12
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: James Burchett (Republican), Chuck Efstration (Republican), Kimberly New (Republican), Holt Persinger (Republican), Mitchell Scoggins (Republican), Tyler Paul Smith (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary, CA
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (256 yes, 43 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Nonpartisan elections for Georgia probate court judges: benefit, low. The law establishes a constitutional amendment requiring all Georgia probate judges to be elected in nonpartisan elections. Their terms remain governed by the state constitution, and election rules for other judges stay unchanged. The amendment requires publication and a statewide vote, with Yes me…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: James Burchett (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Chuck Efstration (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Kimberly New (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Holt Persinger (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Mitchell Scoggins (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Tyler Paul Smith (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Brian Strickland (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-31 | Senate | ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT | pass | 46 | 0 | 4 |
| 2026-03-20 | Senate | MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION | pass | 32 | 5 | 19 |
| 2026-03-19 | Senate | ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT | pass | 31 | 18 | 4 |
| 2026-02-11 | House | ADOPT | pass | 147 | 20 | 7 |

## Actions (20)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-12: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-12: Act 638
- 2026-04-07: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-03-31: Senate Reconsidered Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Senate Reconsidered (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Senate Lost (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Senate Notice to Reconsider (Senate)
- 2026-03-12: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-02-11: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-01-28: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2025-04-04: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- 2025-02-21: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2025-02-18: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-02-13: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-02-12: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HR 251/AP* (v3): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248549)

## 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
- [HR 251/AP* (v3) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248549)

## 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-HR251-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).