SB 527: Sheriffs; candidates for the office of sheriff are certified peace officers at the time of qualifying as a candidate; require

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-16-1), candidates for sheriff generally must be certified peace officers, but there is an exception: a first responder, a retired or honorably discharged member of the U.S. armed forces, or a current or former law enforcement officer who is not yet certified can still run if they swear they will complete certification within six months after taking office, with possible extensions granted by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council for illness, injury, or military service. This bill strikes that entire exception. It revises Code Section 15-16-1 so that every candidate for sheriff must be a certified peace officer, not under revocation by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, at the time they qualify as a candidate, with no six-month grace period afterward. It also updates the sworn affidavit candidates must file to remove references to the old six-month compliance option. The bill repeals conflicting laws and does not state a delayed effective date.

• Removes the option for first responders, veterans, and current or former law enforcement officers to run for sheriff without being certified and complete certification within six months after taking office.
• Requires all sheriff candidates to be certified peace officers, and not under certification revocation, at the exact time they file to qualify as a candidate.
• Eliminates the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council's process for granting extensions to newly elected, uncertified sheriffs.
• Revises the sworn candidate affidavit so it no longer references a promise to become certified after taking office.
• Keeps in place the existing rule that knowingly filing a false candidate affidavit is false swearing and submitting a false document, both punishable under other Georgia criminal code sections.

People considering running for sheriff in Georgia, including first responders, military veterans, and current or former law enforcement officers who previously could qualify without prior peace officer certification. It also affects the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and probate court judges who oversee the certification and notification process.

Some candidates who could previously run for sheriff while working toward certification during their first six months in office would no longer be eligible to qualify unless already certified. This narrows who can appear on the ballot for sheriff and removes a path used by veterans and first responders without law enforcement certification.

• Section 1 revises subparagraph (c)(1)(J) of O.C.G.A. § 15-16-1 to require certified peace officer status, unrevoked by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, at the moment of qualifying as a candidate.
• Section 1 deletes language that let first responders, veterans, and former or current law enforcement officers qualify without certification if they promised to certify within six months of taking office.
• Section 1 removes the council's authority to grant time extensions for newly elected uncertified sheriffs and the requirement that the council notify the probate court of uncertified sheriffs.
• Section 1 revises paragraph (2) of subsection (c) to strike the reference to a candidate's promise to comply with certification requirements within six months of taking office in the sworn affidavit.
• Section 1 keeps the penalty provision making false statements in the candidate affidavit punishable as false swearing (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71) and submission of a false document (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20).
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws in conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-03-06House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-04House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-03Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
5. 2026-03-03Senate Third Read (Senate)
6. 2026-02-25Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
7. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
8. 2026-02-19Senate Read and Referred (Senate)

• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)Primary sponsor
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 3, 2026

   49 yea, 3 nay (0 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #610

• sheriff elections
• peace officer certification
• law enforcement qualifications
• election candidacy rules