HB1406: HB1406 Elections; publication of calls of election on newspaper and government websites; provide

Under current Georgia election law, when a special election or special primary is called, the official date of that call is tied to when the notice first runs in a newspaper of general circulation or is posted on the relevant government website. This bill amends O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2 to clarify and expand how that publication can happen. The bill revises the definition of 'call' to confirm that posting on the website of the applicable county, city, consolidated government, school system, or (for statewide elections) the Secretary of State counts as the starting date, alongside newspaper publication. It also adds a new definition of 'newspaper' that includes not just traditional print publications of general circulation but also material available on a public website, whether free or paid. The bill repeals conflicting laws and does not state a separate effective date.

• Revises the definition of 'call' in Georgia election law (O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2) to confirm that website posting by the relevant government body starts the clock on a special election or primary.
• Adds a new legal definition of 'newspaper' that includes publications available on a public website, whether free or for a fee, not just print papers.
• Applies the website-posting rule to counties, municipalities, consolidated governments, and school systems, and to the Secretary of State for statewide special elections.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these changes.

County, municipal, and consolidated government election officials; local school systems that call special elections; the Georgia Secretary of State's office; newspapers of general circulation; and voters who rely on public notices to learn when special elections or primaries have been called.

Because the official start date of a special election process depends on when the call is published, expanding what counts as a 'newspaper' to include websites could change how and where voters and candidates first see notice of an upcoming special election or primary.

• Section 1 revises paragraph (3) of O.C.G.A. § 21-2-2 so the date of a special election or primary 'call' is set by the first newspaper publication or the initial posting date on the relevant government website.
• Section 1 adds new paragraph (13.1) defining 'newspaper' as a publication of general circulation or material available on a public website, free or paid.
• Section 2 repeals all state laws and parts of laws that conflict with the bill.

1. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Segun Adeyina (D, HD-110)Primary sponsor
• Victor Anderson (R, HD-010)
• Todd Jones (R, HD-025)
• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)
• Rhonda Burnough (D, HD-077)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)

• election rules
• special elections
• public notices
• government websites