HB 1375: Hall County; State Court; judges; restate provisions

The State Court of Hall County currently operates under a patchwork of laws dating back to 1891, most recently amended in 2008. This bill rewrites the key section governing that court to spell out, in one place, the number of judges, how they are chosen, their qualifications, and their pay. Under the bill, the court keeps its current three judges until January 1, 2028. Starting that date, a fourth judge is added, first appointed by the Governor through 2030, then elected by Hall County voters at the 2030 general primary for a four-year term after that. The bill also restates that judges must meet the qualifications and follow the discipline rules that apply to state court judges statewide, sets their salary at 90 percent of a superior court judge's state salary, and clarifies that the longest-serving judge becomes chief judge. It also repeals an older, now-redundant section of the original law.

• Keeps the State Court of Hall County at three judges until January 1, 2028, when it expands to four judges.
• Has the Governor appoint the new fourth judge for an initial term running through December 31, 2030.
• Requires the fourth judge's successor to be elected by Hall County voters at the 2030 general primary, serving a four-year term afterward.
• Sets each judge's annual salary at 90 percent of a Hall County superior court judge's state salary plus locality pay, based on rates from July 1, 2026 onward.
• Restates that the longest-serving judge automatically becomes chief judge of the court.
• Repeals an outdated section (Section 2A) of the original 1891 law that this bill's changes make unnecessary.

The sitting and future judges of the State Court of Hall County, Hall County voters who will elect a successor judge starting in 2030, Hall County government (which pays judicial salaries), and residents and litigants whose cases are heard in that court.

Hall County residents would see their state court gain a fourth judge in 2028, which could affect how quickly cases move through the system. The bill also locks in judicial pay tied to superior court salaries and clarifies leadership and election rules for the court going forward.

• Section 1 rewrites Section 2 of the 1891 Hall County court act, setting three judges until January 1, 2028 and four judges afterward.
• Subsection (b) provides the fourth judge is appointed by the Governor for a term ending December 31, 2030, then elected by Hall County voters at the 2030 general primary for a four-year term.
• Subsection (c) ties judges' qualifications, restrictions, and discipline to Chapter 7 of Title 15 of the Georgia Code, the general state court law.
• Subsections (d) and (e) set judicial salary at 90 percent of a superior court judge's state salary plus locality pay, measured from July 1, 2026.
• Subsection (f) states the longest-serving judge becomes chief judge.
• Section 2 repeals Section 2A of the original Act as superseded.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 664
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)

• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)Primary sponsor
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)

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

• Hall County courts
• state court judges
• local legislation
• judicial elections
• judicial salaries