# Georgia SB 88: Douglas Judicial Circuit; a fourth judge of the superior courts; provide

Georgia SB 88, Douglas Judicial Circuit; a fourth judge of the superior courts; provide, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Timothy Bearden (Republican), Donzella James (Democrat); status signed, last action 2025-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB88-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia SB 88
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Douglas Judicial Circuit; a fourth judge of the superior courts; provide
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-04
- Last action: 2025-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: Timothy Bearden (Republican), Donzella James (Democrat)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Judiciary, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (219 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Douglas Circuit adds a fourth judge: benefit, low. The law increases Douglas Judicial Circuit's superior court judges from three to four. The Governor appoints the new judge for January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, continuing until a successor is elected and qualified. Voters elect the successor in the 2028 nonpartisan judicial election for…
- Local funds support Douglas Circuit courts: mixed, low. Douglas Circuit judges may appoint an additional court reporter, whose pay follows existing law. When a judge requests support, county leaders may provide needed courtrooms, office space, equipment, supplies, and staff. Approved spending is a court expense paid from county funds. The state and coun…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Timothy Bearden (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Donzella James (Democrat), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kimberly New (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-18 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 171 | 0 | 4 |
| 2025-02-28 | Senate | PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE | pass | 48 | 6 |   |

## Actions (15)

- 2025-07-01: Effective Date
- 2025-04-30: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Act 25
- 2025-04-07: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2025-03-18: House Third Readers (House)
- 2025-03-18: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2025-03-13: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2025-03-04: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-03-03: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-02-28: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-02-04: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 88/AP* (v7): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/236512)

## 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
- [SB 88/AP* (v7) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/236512)

## 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-SB88-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).