HB 852 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Athens-Clarke County; Board of Elections and Registration; reconstitute and reestablish

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to reconstitute and reestablish the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections and Registration; to provide for the powers and duties of the board; to provide for the appointment, removal, terms of office, and compensation of its members; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 25, 2025 Last action Mar 31, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC 47 3685/a → LC 47 3706S/hs · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to change how members of the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections are appointed, reducing the number of partisan members and adding a nonpartisan member. The changes also streamline appointment procedures and clarify term lengths for initial board members.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on reestablishing the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections, but the composition and appointment process of the board have been significantly altered.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the board composition from five members (two partisan, three nonpartisan) to four members (two partisan, one nonpartisan) plus a nonpartisan member appointed separately.

REQUIREMENT

Reduced the number of nonpartisan members appointed by judges from three to one, and clarified that this member must be nonpartisan without political affiliation.

Added a provision requiring the chief judge to appoint a board member if the governing authority fails to appoint one within 30 days of receiving nominations.

Added new section requiring the clerk of the Superior Court to record and certify interim appointments and provide appropriate commissions to board members.

TIMELINE

Clarified that initial board members serve one-year terms instead of two-year terms, while subsequent members serve two-year terms.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Committee

House Withdrawn, Recommitted

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors