HB 448: Gilmer County; appointment of a county surveyor; provide

Currently, Gilmer County elects its county surveyor, an official who handles land boundary and property surveys for the county. This bill eliminates that elected position and instead lets the Gilmer County governing authority (the county commission) appoint someone to serve as county surveyor. The person appointed must meet the same qualifications already required by Georgia law for county surveyors. Appointments last one year, and successors are appointed the same way. Whoever currently holds the elected office finishes out their existing term rather than being removed immediately, and no future elections for the office will be held. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law without his signature.

• Abolishes the elected office of county surveyor in Gilmer County under authority granted by O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2.1.
• Creates a new appointed county surveyor position, filled by the Gilmer County governing authority for one year terms.
• Requires appointed surveyors to meet the qualifications listed in O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2(b)(1).
• Lets the currently elected surveyor finish out their existing term instead of being replaced right away.
• Ends future elections for the office of county surveyor in Gilmer County.
• Sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without his signature.

This bill affects Gilmer County residents and voters, the current elected county surveyor, the Gilmer County governing authority (which gains appointment power), and future candidates who would otherwise have run for the office in county elections.

Gilmer County voters will no longer choose their county surveyor at the ballot box; instead, county commissioners will pick who fills the role each year. This shifts accountability for the position from the electorate to elected county officials.

• Section 1 abolishes the elected office of county surveyor in Gilmer County under the authority of O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2.1.
• Section 1 gives the Gilmer County governing authority power to appoint a county surveyor for one year terms, with successors appointed the same way.
• Section 1 requires appointees to meet the qualifications in O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2(b)(1).
• Section 1 allows the currently serving elected surveyor to finish their current term with no further elections held.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as approval by the Governor or the bill becoming law without his signature.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date
2. 2025-05-13Act 143
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-10Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-10Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-02-21House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Johnny Chastain (R, HD-7)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 21, 2025

   170 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 3 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #58

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 10, 2025

   43 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 9 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #221

• Gilmer County government
• county surveyor
• local elections
• appointed officials