HB1121: HB1121 Cordele Judicial Court; change certain terms of court

Georgia law sets specific calendar dates, known as terms of court, when superior courts in each judicial circuit must convene. This bill amends Georgia's court terms statute (O.C.G.A. § 15-6-3) to change the terms of court for the Cordele Judicial Circuit, which covers Ben Hill, Crisp, Dooly, and Wilcox counties. The bill rewrites paragraph (13) of that statute so that each county's superior court term schedule is tied to the Monday following January 1 and July 1, replacing the older set of specific monthly dates previously listed for each county. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not state a delayed effective date beyond the standard process for a signed act.

• Rewrites the schedule of superior court terms for Ben Hill, Crisp, Dooly, and Wilcox counties in the Cordele Judicial Circuit.
• Ties the start of court terms in each of these four counties to the Monday following January 1 and July 1 each year.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with the new term schedule.

Judges, clerks, attorneys, litigants, and jurors in the superior courts of Ben Hill, Crisp, Dooly, and Wilcox counties, since the bill changes the calendar dates on which court sessions in the Cordele Judicial Circuit officially begin.

Court terms affect scheduling for trials, filings, and other court business in these four Georgia counties. Changing the dates could shift when cases are heard and how court calendars are organized for local judges, attorneys, and residents involved in litigation.

• Section 1 amends paragraph (13) of O.C.G.A. § 15-6-3, which lists the terms of superior court for the Cordele Circuit's four counties.
• The revised schedule sets terms for Ben Hill, Crisp, Dooly, and Wilcox counties around the Monday following January 1 and July 1.
• Section 2 repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new term schedule.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 446
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-31House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2026-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2026-03-27Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2026-03-27Senate Taken from Table (Senate)

• Noel Williams (R, HD-148)Primary sponsor
• Leesa Hagan (R, HD-156)
• Patty Stinson (D, HD-150)
• Steven McNeel (R, SD-018)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 17, 2026

   162 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 8 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #514

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   26 yea, 22 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #835

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

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

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #849

4. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2026

   165 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 6 absent)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #812

• courts
• Cordele Judicial Circuit
• superior court terms
• Georgia court schedules