HB1339: HB1339 Columbus, City of; filling vacancies in office of mayor or councilor; revise provisions

Columbus, Georgia operates under a consolidated city-county charter that spells out how to fill a vacancy in the mayor's or a councilor's seat. This bill rewrites Section 6-201 of that charter to update the timing rule that decides whether a vacancy is filled by a special election or by a council vote. Under the revised language, if a vacancy happens more than 90 days before the general election that would pick a permanent successor, a special election must be called under Georgia's election law (O.C.G.A. Section 21-2-540). If the vacancy happens 90 days or fewer before that general election, the remaining council members choose a replacement by majority vote instead. The bill also keeps the rule that the mayor pro tempore acts as mayor if the mayor's seat is vacant, and that person takes over the mayor's office for the rest of the term if the vacancy occurs close to an election, with their own council seat then filled under the same rules. The Muscogee County election superintendent must call any special election within 30 days of the vacancy being confirmed.

• Rewrites Section 6-201 of the Columbus, Georgia charter to set new rules for filling vacancies in the mayor's or a councilor's office.
• Requires a special election under Georgia election law (O.C.G.A. Section 21-2-540) if a vacancy occurs more than 90 days before the next relevant general election.
• Lets the remaining council members fill a vacancy by majority vote if it occurs 90 days or fewer before that general election.
• Requires anyone chosen to fill a vacancy to meet the same qualifications as someone elected to a full term in that office.
• Requires the Muscogee County election superintendent to call any needed special election within 30 days of the vacancy being confirmed.
• Keeps the rule that the mayor pro tempore acts as mayor during a vacancy and takes over the office if the vacancy happens close to an election, with their council seat then filled under the same process.

Columbus, Georgia's mayor and city council, candidates seeking to fill a vacant seat, Muscogee County's election superintendent who administers special elections, and Columbus voters who would take part in either a special election or watch a council appointment fill the seat.

The timing rules determine whether Columbus voters get to elect a replacement mayor or councilor directly or whether the sitting council picks someone to serve out the term. This affects how quickly a vacancy is filled and who has a say in choosing that replacement.

• Section 1 revises Section 6-201 of the 1993 Columbus charter (Ga. L. 1993, p. 4978) governing special elections to fill vacancies.
• Subsection (a)(1) requires a special election under O.C.G.A. Section 21-2-540 if the vacancy arises more than 90 days before the relevant general election.
• Subsection (a)(2) lets the remaining council members fill the vacancy by majority vote if it arises 90 days or fewer before that election.
• Subsection (a)(4) requires the Muscogee County election superintendent to call a special election within 30 days of the vacancy being established.
• Subsection (b) keeps the mayor pro tempore as acting mayor during a vacancy and provides for that person to succeed to the office if the vacancy occurs close to an election.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-03-20Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-03-19House Passed/Adopted (House)
3. 2026-03-19House Third Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-19House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
5. 2026-02-19House Second Readers (House)
6. 2026-02-18House First Readers (House)
7. 2026-02-17House Hopper (House)

• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)Primary sponsor
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• Teddy Reese (D, HD-140)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 19, 2026

   130 yea, 30 nay (12 not voting, 4 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #723

• local government
• Columbus Georgia
• city charter
• elections
• vacancy in office