---
title: HB 1406. Elections; publication of calls of election on newspaper and government websites; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb1406
cite_as: HB 1406, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1406
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1406.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1406/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73459
date: 2026-02-25
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1406.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 1406
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-02-20
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Segun Adeyina
- Victor Anderson
- Todd Jones
- El-Mahdi Holly
- Rhonda Burnough
- Matt Reeves
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB1406/2025
upstream_id: 2121409
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- election rules
- special elections
- government transparency
- public notices
---
# HB 1406. Elections; publication of calls of election on newspaper and government websites; provide
## Text
House Bill 1406
By: Representatives Adeyina of the 110th, Anderson of the 10th, Jones of the 25th, Holly of
the 116th, Burnough of the 77th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 21-2-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
definitions regarding elections and primaries generally, so as to provide for publication of
calls of election on newspaper and government websites; to provide for definitions; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Code Section 21-2-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions
regarding elections and primaries generally, is amended by revising paragraph (3) and adding
a new paragraph to read as follows:
"(3) 'Call' or 'the call,' as used in relation to special elections or special primaries, means
the affirmative action taken by the responsible public officer to cause a special election
or special primary to be held. The date of the call shall be the date of the first publication
in a newspaper of appropriate circulation or the initial date of posting on the website of
the applicable county, municipality, consolidated government, or school system or, in the
case of a state-wide special election or special primary, the initial date of posting on the
website of the Secretary of State of such affirmative action."
"(13.1) 'Newspaper' means a publication of general circulation within the appropriate
area or available on a public website whether free of charge or for a fee."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia House bill would let counties, cities, school systems and the Secretary of State satisfy legal notice requirements for special elections by posting the call on a government website instead of only in a printed newspaper.
### Plain-language summary
Under current Georgia election law, when a special election or special primary is called, the official clock starts running on the date that call is first published in a newspaper of appropriate circulation. This bill changes O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2 so that the clock can instead start on the date the call is first posted on the website of the relevant county, municipality, consolidated government, or school system, or on the Secretary of State's website for a statewide special election or primary.
The bill also adds a new definition of 'newspaper' to the same code section, defining it as a publication of general circulation in the relevant area or one available on a public website, whether free or paid. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not list a delayed effective date, so it would take effect under Georgia's standard rules once signed.
### What it does
- Amends the legal definition of 'call' or 'the call' for special elections and special primaries in O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2.
- Allows the official date of a call to be set by website posting instead of only newspaper publication.
- Lets counties, municipalities, consolidated governments, and school systems use their own websites for this purpose.
- Lets the Secretary of State use the state website for statewide special elections or primaries.
- Adds a new definition of 'newspaper' that includes a publication available on a public website, free or for a fee.
- Removes the existing requirement that the newspaper be one 'of appropriate circulation.'
### Who it affects
County, municipal, and consolidated government election officials, local school system boards, and the Georgia Secretary of State's office, all of whom issue calls for special elections or primaries. Voters and local newspapers that currently rely on print publication for official notice are also affected.
### Why it matters
If enacted, local governments and the state could satisfy election notice rules through a website posting rather than a newspaper print run, which could speed up or simplify how special elections are announced and change how voters and local media find out that a special election has been called.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 revises paragraph (3) of O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2 so the date of a call can be the first newspaper publication date or the initial posting date on a government website.
- Section 1 specifies that local governments and school systems may use their own websites, while the Secretary of State's website applies to statewide special elections or primaries.
- Section 1 adds new paragraph (13.1) defining 'newspaper' to include a publication of general circulation or one available on a public website, free or for a fee.
- Section 1 removes the existing requirement that the newspaper have 'appropriate circulation.'
- Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the Act.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2026-02-20)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-25)
- Sponsors: Segun Adeyina, Victor Anderson, Todd Jones, El-Mahdi Holly, Rhonda Burnough, Matt Reeves
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73459
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb1406.md?full=1