Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HB 868: Public officers and employees; certain retiring county officers and their spouses and dependents be included in certain county health plans; provide
Last action March 6, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
A Georgia House bill would let certain retiring county officials, such as sheriffs, probate judges, and tax commissioners, keep county health coverage for themselves and their families, with the county covering most of the cost.
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 Comm Sub version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Currently, Georgia county officers who retire generally lose access to their county health insurance plan. This bill amends the state law covering county officers' benefits (O.C.G.A. § 45-18-5) to let certain retiring county officers, and their spouses and dependents, stay on the county's health plan after retirement. To qualify, an officer must be between 55 and 65 years old, be retiring, and have served at least 16 years as a probate judge, sheriff, tax commissioner or tax collector, clerk of the superior court, or county commissioner. Starting December 31, 2026, eligible officers could elect this coverage, and the county would pay 75 percent of the premiums until the officer turns 65. That payment is capped at whatever the county actually saves by replacing the retiring officer's salary with a new officer's lower starting salary, so the benefit cannot cost the county more than the savings it gets from the turnover.
What the bill does
- Creates a new option for eligible retiring county officers to stay on their county's health insurance plan along with their spouse and dependents.
- Limits eligibility to officers aged 55 to 65 who served at least 16 years as probate judge, sheriff, tax commissioner or tax collector, clerk of superior court, or county commissioner.
- Requires the county to pay 75 percent of premiums for the retired officer and their family until the officer turns 65.
- Caps the county's premium payment at the salary savings created by replacing the retiring officer with a new officer at a lower starting salary.
- Sets the start date for this option as December 31, 2026.
Who it affects
County officers such as probate judges, sheriffs, tax commissioners or tax collectors, clerks of superior court, and county commissioners who are nearing retirement, along with their spouses and dependents. County governing authorities, which must administer and help pay for the extended coverage, are also affected.
Why it matters
Retiring county officials in these specific roles could keep affordable health coverage into their 60s instead of losing it upon retirement, while counties would only pay if the officer's replacement earns less, limiting the added cost to existing salary savings from turnover.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds a new subsection (b.1) to O.C.G.A. § 45-18-5 defining 'county health plan' and 'eligible county officer.'
- Eligible officers must be 55 to 65 years old and have served at least 16 years as probate judge, sheriff, tax commissioner or tax collector, clerk of superior court, or county commissioner.
- Beginning December 31, 2026, eligible officers may elect to keep themselves, their spouse, and dependents on the county health plan after retiring.
- The county must pay 75 percent of premiums until the officer turns 65, but only up to the amount the county saves in salary by hiring a replacement at a lower starting salary.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“any eligible county officer may elect for himself or herself and the spouse and dependents of such officer to be included in a county health plan”
“such premium payment shall not exceed the savings realized by such county based on the total gross salary paid to such officer in his or her final 12 months of service minus the total gross salary due to an individual serving as a new county officer”
Discussed in meetings (6)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House floor session, February 10, 2026 (legislative day 16)
From 1:44:51 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Withdrawn, Recommitted)
Summary by Georgia Commons: A committee chair moved to transfer the bill from the Insurance Committee to the Governmental Affairs Committee, saying both committee chairs agreed. The clerk read its caption concerning health insurance plans. The House approved the transfer without objection; members did not discuss the bill’s substance.
House Governmental Affairs Committee, March 5, 2026
From 0:56:37 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HB 868 would let sheriffs, court clerks, tax commissioners and probate judges retire after at least 16 years of service and at age 55 or older while retaining county health coverage until Medicare eligibility at 65. The sponsor said marketplace insurance could cost $12,000 to $15,000 annually, discouraging retirement. The sponsor argued that directing salary savings from replacing long-serving officers toward coverage would make the proposal cost-neutral or save counties money, and said retirees would still pay 25% of insurance costs. One member questioned why elected officers should receive this benefit when others must buy their own insurance. Another asked about county budget constraints and ACCG opposition. The sponsor attributed that opposition mainly to resistance to state requirements and argued that the legislature already sets these officers’ salary rules. Members approved amendments adding county commissioners and removing provisions concerning ACCG administration, which the amendment’s proposer said would allow more coverage options. Asked about spouses and children, the chair said family coverage was an option, not a requirement. The committee approved the amended bill by voice vote.
House Rules Committee, March 6, 2026
From 1:08:09 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2178
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said HB 868 was requested by the Constitutional Officers Association and would help long-serving county officers with health insurance expenses when retiring between ages 55 and 65. The presenter described the approach as revenue neutral. There were no questions or recorded decisions.
House Rules Committee, March 6, 2026
From 1:22:32 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2178
Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed HB 868 on the supplemental floor calendar under modified structured rules. No substantive discussion occurred.
Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, March 24, 2026
From 1:06:24 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: A supporting House member said provisions from HB 868 had been added to the coroner bill to provide county health coverage for certain retiring officers ages 55 to 65 with at least 16 years of service. A Constitutional Officers Association of Georgia witness said county commissioners were included, counties would pay up to 75% of premiums, and county costs could not exceed salary savings from replacing the retiring officer. The witness argued that coverage would help officers retire rather than remain solely for insurance. A White County tax commissioner estimated that the county would still save over $12,000 annually upon that witness's retirement. Members asked whether participation was mandatory, and presenters said the language made it mandatory. One member raised concerns about taxpayer costs, spouse and dependent coverage, and local control. Another supported mandatory coverage, arguing that long-serving officers should not have to remain in office to retain benefits. Making coverage subject to county approval was discussed but not adopted. No vote was taken.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Eddie Lumsden (R, HD-12)
- Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-14)
- Trey Kelley (R, HD-16)
- Stan Gunter (R, HD-8)
- Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
- Matthew Gambill (R, HD-15)
Topics
- county government
- health insurance
- public employee benefits
- retirement benefits
- local officials