HB 1258: Muscogee County; State Court; provide additional judge

The State Court of Muscogee County currently has two judges under a law dating back to 1884, as later amended in 1987. This bill amends that law to expand the court to three judges effective January 1, 2027. The two sitting judges keep serving out the terms to which they were already elected or appointed. The new, third judge would be chosen at the nonpartisan general election in 2026, using the same election process used for other state court judges in Georgia, and would serve a four-year term starting January 1, 2027. The bill specifies that the new judge has the same powers, duties, jurisdiction, privileges, and immunities as the other two judges, and receives the same pay, salary supplements, and expense allowances. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Expands the State Court of Muscogee County from two judges to three judges, effective January 1, 2027.
• Lets the two current judges finish out the terms they were already elected or appointed to serve.
• Requires the new third judge to be chosen in the 2026 nonpartisan general election, the same process used for other state court judges.
• Sets the new judge's initial term at four years, beginning January 1, 2027, continuing until a successor is elected and qualified.
• Gives the third judge the same legal powers, duties, and jurisdiction as the other two judges of the court.
• Sets the third judge's pay, salary supplements, and expense allowances equal to those of the other judges.

Residents and litigants of Muscogee County who use the State Court, the two current State Court judges, whoever is elected to the new third judgeship, county election officials who must add the seat to the 2026 ballot, and county government responsible for funding the new judge's compensation.

Adding a third judge could help the State Court of Muscogee County handle its caseload faster, potentially shortening wait times for people with civil and criminal cases before the court. Voters in Muscogee County will also see a new judicial race on the 2026 ballot.

• Section 1 revises subsection (a) of Section 2.1 of the 1884 Act (as amended in 1987) to set the court's size at three judges as of January 1, 2027.
• The two judges in office on December 31, 2026, keep serving their current terms without interruption.
• The third judge is to be elected at the nonpartisan general election in 2026, under the same rules used statewide for state court judge elections.
• The new judge's initial term is four years starting January 1, 2027, running until a successor is elected and qualified.
• The new judge has the same powers, duties, jurisdiction, privileges, and immunities as the court's existing judges.
• The new judge's compensation, salary, supplements, and expense allowances match those of the other judges.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 661
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-24Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-12House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)Primary sponsor
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Vance Smith (R, HD-138)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 12, 2026

   156 yea, 0 nay (11 not voting, 8 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #506

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 24, 2026

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

• Muscogee County courts
• state court judges
• local judicial elections
• Georgia courts