SB613: SB613 Superior Court of Clayton County; change the compensation of the sheriff

Clayton County's sheriff is currently paid a set annual salary under a 1949 local law that has been amended several times, most recently in 2018. This bill changes that salary again, setting it at $185,000 per year, paid in equal monthly installments from Clayton County funds. The bill does not take effect right away. Instead, it becomes effective on the first day of the month after the Sheriff of Clayton County fully complies with county-wide audits required for 2024, 2025, and 2026 under Georgia's local government audit law (O.C.G.A. § 36-81-7). The bill also repeals any conflicting laws, which is standard language clearing away older provisions that contradict the new salary figure.

• Sets the annual salary of the Clayton County sheriff at $185,000, paid monthly from county funds.
• Amends a 1949 local Act (as previously changed in 2018) that governs compensation for the Clayton County sheriff.
• Delays the effective date until the sheriff fully complies with mandatory county-wide audits for 2024, 2025, and 2026.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new salary provision.

The Sheriff of Clayton County, whose pay is directly set by this bill, and Clayton County government, which funds the salary and administers the required county-wide audits tied to the effective date.

The bill raises the sheriff's pay to $185,000 a year, but ties that raise to a condition: the sheriff must first fully comply with overdue county audits for three specific years, linking compensation directly to financial accountability at the county level.

• Section 1 revises subsection (b) of the 1949 Act (as amended in 2018) to set the sheriff's salary at $185,000.00 per year, paid in equal monthly installments.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the first day of the month after the sheriff fully complies with county-wide audits for 2024, 2025, and 2026 required under O.C.G.A. § 36-81-7(c.1).
• Section 3 repeals any laws or parts of laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2026-05-12Act 702
2. 2026-05-12Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
3. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-02Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
5. 2026-03-31House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
6. 2026-03-31House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-03-31House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
8. 2026-03-10House Second Readers (House)

• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)Primary sponsor
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Yasmin Neal (D, HD-079)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #639

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2026

   161 yea, 3 nay (5 not voting, 7 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #803

3. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2026

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

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #969

• Clayton County government
• sheriff salary
• local government audits
• county officials pay