Local government; Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council; create
Summary
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 32 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to municipal courts, so as to create the Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council; to provide for definitions; to provide for the membership, powers, and duties of the council; to provide for funding of the council; to provide for the status of the council and its members; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 5, 2025
Signed May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
LC 48 1432/a
→
HB 304/AP*
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to shift its primary focus from creating a Clerks' Council to establishing a new office for Senior Municipal Court Judges. The original text regarding the Clerks' Council was largely removed and replaced with detailed provisions for senior judges, including eligibility requirements, training exemptions, and protections for local laws that already established such positions.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from solely regulating municipal court staff administration to creating a new judicial role (Senior Municipal Court Judge) while retaining the Clerks' Council as a secondary provision.
ELIGIBILITY
Created a new office for Senior Municipal Court Judges, allowing former judges with at least ten years of service to apply for this status.
REQUIREMENT
Established that senior judges must be licensed to practice law and in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia.
Provided that senior judges are exempt from paying support or registration fees for mandatory training but remain responsible for other training costs.
ENFORCEMENT
Added a safeguard stating that this new state law does not override any local laws or ordinances that already established senior judge positions.
DEFINITION
Removed the original detailed definitions and operational rules for the Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council, though the council itself remains in the bill.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2025
How they voted
44–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 47
Mar 25, 2026
D
Democratic18
83% Yea
R
Republican29
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
17
Key actions
7
Committee
5
Amendments
1
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
Act 637
upper
May 12, 2026
Signed into law
House Date Signed by Governor
lower
Mar 27, 2026
Introduced
House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
upper
Mar 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
upper
Jan 12, 2026
Committee
Senate Recommitted
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Senate Read and Referred
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Passed/Adopted
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Committee Favorably Reported
lower
Feb 5, 2025
Introduced
House Hopper
lower
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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