HB 868: Public officers and employees; certain retiring county officers and their spouses and dependents be included in certain county health plans; provide

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

1. 2026-03-06House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-02-10House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
3. 2025-03-31House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-03-28House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-03-27House Hopper (House)

• Eddie Lumsden (R, HD-012)Primary sponsor
• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)

• county government
• health insurance
• public employee benefits
• retirement benefits
• local officials