SB 359: Henry County; Board of Commissioners; code of ethics; revise and restate provisions

Henry County's governing law, first passed in 1974, has long included a section setting ethical standards for county officials and employees. This bill replaces that section (Section 7.1) with a much more detailed code of ethics. It defines terms like conflict of interest, confidential information, and gifts, and spells out what officials and employees cannot do, such as accepting gifts meant to influence them or using their position for private gain. The bill also restructures Henry County's Board of Ethics, changing how its five members are chosen (one appointed by each of five county officials, such as the sheriff and tax commissioner), setting three-year terms, and creating full-time ethics officer and ethics administrator positions to handle complaints and investigations. It sets penalties for violations, including fines up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail. Separately, the bill revises the powers of the county chairperson and county manager over hiring, firing, and budgeting. The new ethics board takes office January 1, 2027.

• Replaces Henry County's existing ethics code with a longer, more detailed version defining conflicts of interest, gifts, confidential information, and prohibited conduct for officials and employees.
• Restructures the Board of Ethics so that five county officials, including the sheriff, tax commissioner, and solicitor general, each appoint one member and one alternate.
• Creates full-time salaried ethics officer and ethics administrator positions to investigate complaints, issue advisory opinions, and report to the board of commissioners quarterly.
• Sets penalties for ethics violations including a fine of up to $1,000, public reprimand, and possible prosecution carrying up to six months in jail.
• Bars commissioners from issuing directives to employees who report to the county manager or threatening to terminate employees or contracts to exert undue influence.
• Revises the chairperson's authority to appoint and discipline the county manager and county clerk, and clarifies the county manager's hiring and firing powers over other employees.

Henry County elected officials and commissioners, county employees and department heads, the county manager and county clerk, members of the new Board of Ethics and its staff, and county residents who file ethics complaints or seek public records about official conduct.

The rewritten ethics code changes how Henry County investigates and punishes conflicts of interest and misconduct by officials and employees, giving a reorganized ethics board and two new full-time positions more defined authority. It also limits commissioners' ability to directly pressure staff or contractors.

• Section 1 rewrites Section 7.1 of the 1974 Henry County Act, replacing the entire code of ethics with expanded definitions, proscribed conduct, disclosure rules, and enforcement procedures.
• New subsection (i) creates a five-member Board of Ethics appointed by the clerk of superior court, probate judge, sheriff, tax commissioner, and solicitor general, with three-year terms starting January 1, 2027.
• New subsection (j) creates a full-time ethics officer appointed by the chief judge of the Superior Court for up to six years, who must be a Georgia lawyer with five years of experience.
• New subsection (k) creates a full-time ethics administrator selected by the Board of Ethics to maintain records and notify subjects of complaints.
• New subsection (m) sets penalties for violations, including administrative fines up to $1,000, public reprimand, and criminal prosecution carrying fines up to $1,000 and up to six months' imprisonment.
• Section 2 revises Section 8.2 to update the chairperson's powers over appointing and disciplining the county manager and county clerk, and the county manager's hiring authority over other employees.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 623
3. 2026-05-12Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-31House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-31House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-31House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)Primary sponsor
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2025

   49 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #339

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2026

   161 yea, 3 nay (5 not voting, 7 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #803

3. PassedSenate voteApril 3, 2026

   44 yea, 6 nay (3 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #990

• Henry County government
• ethics code
• local government reform
• county commissioners
• public integrity