Georgia CommonsHouse · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 412: Polk County Water Authority; reappointment of members; change certain provisions
Last action May 13, 2025 · Effective Date
House Bill 412 changes how long a Polk County Water Authority member must wait before being reappointed after serving two consecutive terms, and requires members to keep serving until a replacement is named.
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 Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
The Polk County Water Authority was created by a 1967 state law that has been amended over the years. That law sets rules for how members of the Authority are appointed, including limits on how soon someone can be reappointed after serving multiple terms. This bill rewrites subsection (e) of Section 2 of the original 1967 Act. It says a member who has served two consecutive terms cannot be reappointed for two years after that second term ends. It also adds a rule that all Authority members must keep serving in their positions until a successor has been appointed and is qualified to take over, even if their term has technically expired. The bill repeals any conflicting laws.
What the bill does
- Sets a two year waiting period before a Polk County Water Authority member can be reappointed after finishing a second consecutive term.
- Requires all Authority members to continue serving past the end of their term until a successor is officially appointed and qualified.
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these updated appointment rules.
Who it affects
Current and future members of the Polk County Water Authority, the Polk County government officials responsible for appointing them, and residents of Polk County who rely on the Authority for water services.
Why it matters
The change would prevent the Authority from having empty seats or lapses in oversight, since members must stay on until a replacement is ready, while still limiting how quickly a term-limited member can return to the board.
Key provisions
- Section 1 revises subsection (e) of Section 2 of the 1967 Act creating the Polk County Water Authority.
- The revised subsection bars reappointment for two years after a member completes a second consecutive term.
- The revised subsection also requires members to remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified, regardless of other provisions.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“No member shall be eligible for reappointment for a period of two years from the expiration of his or her second consecutive previous term.”
“Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, all members of the Authority shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified.”
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 142
- House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- House Sent to Governor (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
Show full history (13 actions)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Trey Kelley (R, HD-16)
Votes
- House voteFebruary 21, 2025
170 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 3 excused)
- Senate voteFebruary 27, 2025
48 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 3 excused)
Topics
- Polk County
- water authority
- local government appointments
- board terms