HB1375: HB1375 Hall County; State Court; judges; restate provisions

The State Court of Hall County currently operates under an 1891 law that has been amended over the years, most recently in 2008. This bill restates the section covering the number, qualifications, pay, and chief judge of that court's judges. Until January 1, 2028, the court keeps its current three judges, who continue serving their existing terms. Starting January 1, 2028, a fourth judge is added. The Governor appoints that fourth judge to an initial term ending December 31, 2030, and voters elect a permanent successor at the 2030 general primary for a four-year term. Judges must meet the qualifications and follow the discipline rules that apply to state court judges under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 7 of Title 15), and their salary is set at 90 percent of a superior court judge's state-funded pay as of July 1, 2026. The judge with the longest tenure becomes chief judge. The bill also repeals an outdated section of the prior law and any conflicting laws.

• Keeps the State Court of Hall County at three judges until January 1, 2028, with current judges finishing their existing terms.
• Adds a fourth judge to the court effective January 1, 2028, appointed initially by the Governor rather than elected.
• Sets the fourth judge's initial term to end December 31, 2030, followed by election of a permanent successor at the 2030 general primary for a four-year term.
• Ties each judge's annual salary to 90 percent of a superior court judge's state-funded salary (plus locality pay) as of July 1, 2026, including future increases.
• Establishes that the longest-serving judge on the court automatically becomes chief judge.
• Repeals a now-superseded section (Section 2A) of the original 1891 Act and any conflicting laws.

Current and future judges of the State Court of Hall County, Hall County government (which pays the judges' salaries), Hall County voters (who will elect a successor judge in 2030), and the Governor's office, which will make the initial appointment of the new fourth judge.

Hall County residents would gain a fourth state court judge starting in 2028, which could affect how quickly the court handles cases. The pay formula ties judges' salaries to superior court judges' pay, and the new judge's path to office runs through gubernatorial appointment before facing voters in 2030.

• Section 1 rewrites Section 2 of the original Act: three judges continue until January 1, 2028, then a fourth judge is added.
• Subsection (b) has the Governor appoint the fourth judge for an initial term ending December 31, 2030, with a successor elected at the 2030 general primary for a four-year term.
• Subsection (c) applies the qualifications, restrictions, and discipline rules of Chapter 7 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A. to these judges.
• Subsection (d) and (e) set judges' salaries at 90 percent of a superior court judge's state-funded gross salary as of July 1, 2026, plus later increases.
• Subsection (f) designates the longest-serving judge as chief judge.
• Section 2 repeals Section 2A of the prior Act as superseded.
• Section 3 repeals any laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 664
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-06Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-06Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-03Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-26House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)Primary sponsor
• Soo Hong (R, HD-103)
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)
• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 26, 2026

   158 yea, 0 nay (16 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #569

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #639

• Hall County courts
• state court judges
• local legislation
• judicial pay
• Georgia courts