HB 1359: Brooks County; board of elections and registration; expand to five members

Brooks County currently has a board of elections and registration created by a 2011 state law. This bill rewrites parts of that law. Starting January 1, 2027, the board will have five members instead of its current number, with three members needed for a quorum (the minimum needed to conduct business). Each of the five members of the Brooks County Board of Commissioners will appoint one board member, subject to majority approval by the full commission. The bill also sets staggered initial terms, two members serving until December 31, 2029 and three until December 31, 2031, with all later terms lasting four years. It updates how vacancies are filled, using the same appointment method as the departing member. Finally, it clarifies that the elections supervisor and that office's employees are hired, directed, evaluated, and fired by the board of elections (or by the supervisor, for other staff), even though they remain county employees for pay and benefits.

• Expands the Brooks County Board of Elections and Registration from its current membership to five members effective January 1, 2027.
• Sets a three-member quorum (minimum number needed to conduct official business) for the board.
• Changes appointment so each of the five county commissioners appoints one board member, subject to majority approval by the full board of commissioners.
• Creates staggered initial terms (two members until 2029, three until 2031) with all future terms lasting four years.
• Updates the vacancy-filling process so a replacement is appointed the same way the departing member was, with the clerk of superior court notified and recording the appointment.
• Specifies that the elections supervisor and staff remain county employees for pay and benefits but are hired, evaluated, and can be fired by the board of elections (or by the supervisor, for other staff).

Brooks County residents and voters, the Brooks County Board of Commissioners, current and future members of the county's board of elections and registration, the county's elections supervisor, and elections office employees including poll workers.

The changes would give the Brooks County Board of Commissioners a more direct role in choosing election board members, one appointee per commissioner, and would clarify that the board of elections, not just county administration, controls hiring and firing of the elections supervisor, which could affect accountability over local election administration.

• Section 1 revises Section 3 of the 2011 Act to expand the board to five members as of January 1, 2027, sets a three-member quorum, and has each commissioner appoint one member subject to board approval.
• Section 1 also sets staggered initial terms, two seats ending December 31, 2029 and three ending December 31, 2031, with all later terms set at four years.
• Section 2 revises Section 6 so vacancies are filled using the same appointment method used for the departing member, with the clerk of superior court notified.
• Section 3 revises Sections 11 and 12 to state that the elections supervisor is subject to hiring, direction, evaluation, and termination by the board of elections, while other elections employees are subject to those actions by the supervisor.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 650
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-06Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-06Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-03Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-26House Passed/Adopted (House)

• John LaHood (R, HD-175)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 26, 2026

   158 yea, 0 nay (16 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #569

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #639

• election administration
• Brooks County government
• local government boards
• election board appointments