HB801: HB801 Long County; Board of Commissioners; revise powers of chairperson

This bill amends the 1988 local act that set up the Long County Board of Commissioners. It rewrites Section 4 to spell out the chairperson's duties: presiding over board meetings under Robert's Rules of Order (unless the board adopts different rules) and serving as the official representative of Long County to state, federal, and other authorities. The bill also adds a new Section 4.1 requiring the board to employ a county manager, who would handle the supervision and administration of county affairs. The board sets that manager's pay, duties, and grounds for firing by ordinance. If the manager's job becomes vacant, the board can vote to let the chairperson temporarily fill in as interim manager, but only for up to 90 days. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, and any conflicting laws are repealed.

• Rewrites Section 4 of the 1988 Long County commissioners act to define the chairperson's duty to preside at meetings under Robert's Rules of Order unless the board adopts other rules.
• Designates the chairperson as the official head of Long County for dealings with state, federal, and other authorities.
• Adds a new Section 4.1 requiring the board to hire a county manager to oversee administration of county affairs.
• Gives the board authority to set the county manager's compensation, duties, authority limits, and grounds for termination by ordinance.
• Allows the board to appoint the chairperson as interim county manager for up to 90 days if the position becomes vacant, following a vote at an open meeting.
• Sets the effective date of the changes as July 1, 2025 and repeals conflicting laws.

The Long County Board of Commissioners and its chairperson, any future county manager hired under the new position, and Long County residents whose local government structure and administration would change under the bill.

Long County would move toward a more structured management setup, with a hired county manager handling daily administration instead of leaving that entirely to elected commissioners. This clarifies the chairperson's formal role and creates a fallback plan if the manager's job is vacant.

• Section 1 revises Section 4 of the 1988 Long County act, defining the chairperson's role in presiding over meetings and representing the county to outside authorities.
• Section 1 also adds Section 4.1, requiring the board to employ a county manager responsible for supervising county administration.
• Section 4.1(a) lets the board set the county manager's employment terms, compensation, and grounds for termination through ordinance.
• Section 4.1(b) allows the chairperson to serve as interim county manager for up to 90 days after a board vote, in case of a vacancy from death, incapacity, or termination.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as July 1, 2025.
• Section 3 repeals any laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-13Act 234
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-09House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-28House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 28, 2025

   160 yea, 0 nay (8 not voting, 12 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #332

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2025

   51 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #381

• local government
• county government
• Long County
• county manager
• government administration