SB469: SB469 Board of Commissioners of Forsyth County; term limits for members; provide

Forsyth County's board of commissioners currently has no term limits under the 1964 local law that created it. This bill would add a new rule: anyone elected to the board after January 1, 2027 who has served two full terms could not run again until four years after their last term ends. Time already served before the change counts toward that two-term limit. The term limit does not take effect automatically. The bill requires Forsyth County's election superintendent to hold a referendum on the November 2026 general election date, asking voters to approve or reject the term limit. If a majority vote yes, the term limit becomes law on January 1, 2027. If voters reject it, or if the election is not held as required, the term limit provision never takes effect and the whole Act automatically repeals itself 365 days after the election date. The bill also allows any Forsyth County voter to sue for a court order (a writ of mandamus) forcing the election superintendent to hold the vote if they fail to do so.

• Adds a new section to the 1964 Act governing Forsyth County's board of commissioners that limits members to two consecutive full terms.
• Bars a commissioner who has served two full terms from running again until four years after their last term ends, starting with those elected after January 1, 2027.
• Counts partial or full terms served before the law's effective date toward the two-term limit.
• Requires a countywide referendum in November 2026 asking voters to approve or reject the term limit before it can take effect.
• Automatically repeals the entire Act 365 days after the election if voters reject the term limit or the election is not properly held.
• Lets any Forsyth County voter sue to force the election superintendent to hold the required referendum if they fail to do so.

Current and future members of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, Forsyth County voters who will decide the referendum, the county's election superintendent who must run the vote, and Forsyth County taxpayers who cover the election's cost.

If voters approve it, long-serving Forsyth County commissioners would eventually be required to step aside after two consecutive terms, changing how long any one person can hold a commissioner seat. If voters reject the referendum or it is not held properly, none of this takes effect and the law disappears.

• Section 1 adds Section 2.1 to the 1964 Forsyth County commissioners Act, setting a two-consecutive-term limit with a four-year wait before running again, applying to those elected after January 1, 2027.
• Section 1 also states that terms served before the law's effective date count toward the two-term limit.
• Section 2 requires a countywide referendum on the November 2026 general election date, with specific ballot language asking voters to approve or reject the term limit.
• Section 2 states Section 1 takes effect January 1, 2027 only if a majority of voters approve it in the referendum.
• Section 2 provides that if the referendum fails or is not conducted as required, Section 1 never takes effect and the whole Act is automatically repealed 365 days after the election date.
• Section 2 allows any Forsyth County elector to seek a court order (writ of mandamus) compelling the election superintendent to hold the referendum if they fail to do so.
• Section 3 makes the rest of the Act effective immediately upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 611
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
7. 2026-03-25House Third Readers (House)
8. 2026-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)

• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)Primary sponsor
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 24, 2026

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2026

   164 yea, 0 nay (8 not voting, 4 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #754

3. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2026

   52 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #966

• term limits
• Forsyth County government
• local referendum
• county commissioners
• election law