SB 532 Georgia Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Proceedings; defendant notices of certain proceedings and pleadings when such defendant failed to file pleadings; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Articles 2 and 7 of Chapter 11 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to commencement of action and service and default judgment, respectively, so as to provide for defendant notices of certain proceedings and pleadings when such defendant failed to file pleadings; to clarify defendant's right to appear and introduce evidence of damages in certain default judgment actions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed Senate → LC 44 3556S/hss · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was completely rewritten from a procedural civil justice reform measure to a judicial circuit expansion bill. The original version focused on changing how defendants receive notices and default judgments, while the new version adds a twelfth judge to the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from statewide civil procedure reforms to a specific expansion of the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit's judicial capacity.

SCOPE

Removed provisions regarding defendant notices, default judgment procedures, and service of pleadings that previously applied statewide.

Added provisions to increase the number of superior court judges in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit from eleven to twelve.

TIMELINE

Established that the additional judge will be appointed by the Governor starting January 1, 2027, with successors elected every four years thereafter.

FISCAL

Authorized the State of Georgia and Gwinnett counties to provide compensation, salary, and expense allowances for the additional judge.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026

How they voted

41–0

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 48

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic19

15 Yea 4

78% Yea

R Republican29

26 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Introduced

Senate Hopper

upper

13 primary · 0 co-sponsors