HB1547: HB1547 Liberty County; board of elections and registration; provide staggered terms for certain future appointees

Liberty County's board of elections and registration was created by a 2003 state law that set board members' terms at four years each. This bill amends that 2003 Act to create a staggered transition for a specific group of appointees. Under the change, three members currently appointed by the Liberty County governing authority (the county commission) whose terms end December 31, 2026 will be replaced by successors serving shorter, two-year terms ending December 31, 2028. After that, those seats return to the normal four-year term schedule. The goal appears to be spreading out when board seats turn over so terms do not all expire at once. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and applies specifically to Liberty County's board.

• Amends the 2003 Liberty County elections board law to revise how terms are set for a specific group of appointees.
• Shortens the next term for three board members appointed by the county governing authority to two years instead of four, ending December 31, 2028.
• Restores the normal four-year term length for those same three seats once the two-year transitional term ends.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this change.

This bill affects the Liberty County board of elections and registration, specifically the three board members appointed by the county's governing authority whose terms expire December 31, 2026, and their successors. It also indirectly affects Liberty County voters served by that board.

By staggering when certain board seats expire, the bill changes the timing of turnover on Liberty County's elections board so that not all appointed seats change hands at once, which can affect continuity and institutional knowledge on the board overseeing local elections.

• Section 1 amends Section 2, subsection (c) of the 2003 Liberty County elections board Act.
• Paragraph (1) keeps the general rule that board members serve four-year terms and remain until successors are appointed.
• Paragraph (2) creates an exception: successors to the three members appointed under subsection (b)(4) whose terms end December 31, 2026 will instead serve a two-year term ending December 31, 2028.
• After the two-year transitional term, those seats return to the standard four-year term cycle described in paragraph (1).
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 654
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-23Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-20House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Al Williams (D, HD-168)Primary sponsor
• Buddy DeLoach (R, HD-167)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 20, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (14 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #734

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #799

• Liberty County
• election administration
• local government
• board terms