HB 1424: Sumter County; board of education; revise compensation

This bill amends the 2014 local law that governs the Sumter County board of education and school superintendent. It rewrites Section 9, the part of that law dealing with how board members are paid and reimbursed. Under the new language, each board member would be paid $500.00 per month. Board members could also be reimbursed for actual travel expenses outside the county for official business, such as training sessions or statewide meetings, up to a maximum of $3,000.00 per year, but only if the travel is approved in advance by a majority vote of the board. Expenses must be verified and approved before reimbursement in a manner the board specifies. Board members also remain eligible to join a school district group insurance plan as allowed under state law. The changes take effect the first day of the month after the Governor signs the bill or it becomes law without a signature.

• Sets Sumter County board of education member pay at $500.00 per month.
• Caps reimbursement for out-of-county official travel expenses at $3,000.00 per year per board member.
• Requires board approval by majority vote before a member's travel is authorized for reimbursement.
• Requires all expenses to be verified and approved before reimbursement, in a manner the board specifies.
• Keeps board members' eligibility to join a school district group insurance plan under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-55.
• Sets the effective date as the first day of the month after the Governor signs it or it becomes law without signature.

Members of the Sumter County Board of Education, who would receive the revised monthly pay and travel reimbursement terms, and Sumter County school district administration, which manages the board's expense approval and insurance plan participation.

The bill changes how much Sumter County school board members are paid and how their travel costs for official business are reimbursed, setting a clear monthly salary and a yearly cap on reimbursed travel expenses tied to board approval.

• Section 1 revises Section 9 of the 2014 Sumter County board of education law to set monthly compensation at $500.00 per board member.
• Section 1 also caps annual travel expense reimbursement at $3,000.00, requiring prior majority board approval and later verification before payment.
• Section 1 preserves board members' ability to join a school district group insurance plan as authorized under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-55.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the first day of the month following approval by the Governor or the law taking effect without approval.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-06-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 562
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-16Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-16Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-04House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)Primary sponsor
• Patty Stinson (D, HD-150)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   166 yea, 1 nay (9 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #600

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 16, 2026

   48 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #719

• local legislation
• school board compensation
• Sumter County
• education governance