Georgia CommonsHB 378: State courts of counties; online publishing of terms; provide
Last action March 25, 2026 · Senate Committee Favorably Reported
House Bill 378 would require every Georgia state court clerk to post the dates of the court's terms in a prominent spot on the court's public website.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds.
In plain language
Georgia's state courts (a type of county-level trial court separate from superior courts) operate on set 'terms,' which are scheduled periods during the year when the court conducts business. Currently there is no specific state law requiring clerks to publish this scheduling information online. This bill adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 15-7-41.1, to the law governing state courts of counties. It requires each state court clerk to publish and maintain information about the court's term dates in a prominent location on the court's public website. The bill does not set a specific effective date beyond the standard process, and it repeals any conflicting laws.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 15-7-41.1, requiring state court clerks to publish court term dates online.
- Requires the information to be kept in a 'prominent location' on the court's public website, not buried in an obscure page.
- Requires clerks to maintain, not just post once, this term information, implying ongoing updates.
- Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new publishing requirement.
Who it affects
State court clerks in Georgia's counties, who must now publish and maintain term date information online, and members of the public, attorneys, and litigants who rely on knowing when a state court is in session.
Why it matters
People who need to file cases, appear in court, or track deadlines tied to a court's term would have an easier, more reliable way to find that information online instead of having to call or visit the courthouse.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds new Code section 15-7-41.1 to Article 3 of Chapter 7 of Title 15, requiring state court clerks to publish and maintain term of court information on the court's public website in a prominent location.
- Section 2 repeals any laws or parts of laws that conflict with this new requirement.
From the bill
“Each state court clerk shall be required to publish and maintain information and dates regarding terms of court in a prominent location on its public website.”
Status timeline
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Recommitted (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
Show full history (11 actions)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Martin Momtahan (R, HD-017)
- Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
- Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
- Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
- Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)
- Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
Votes
- House voteMarch 3, 2025
162 yea, 11 nay (4 not voting, 3 absent)
Topics
- state courts
- court transparency
- government websites
- court clerks