HB1587: HB1587 Cobb County; abolish office of elected county surveyor; provide appointment

Cobb County currently elects its county surveyor, an official who handles official land surveys and boundary matters. This bill uses a state law (O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2.1) that allows counties to change how this office is filled. Starting January 1, 2029, the elected position would be abolished. After that date, the Cobb County governing authority (the county commission) would appoint someone to serve as county surveyor. The resolution making the appointment can set a fixed term, but if it does not, the appointee serves an indefinite term at the pleasure of the commission. Future surveyors would be appointed the same way. Anyone appointed must meet the qualifications already required by state law (O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2). The bill takes effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without a signature.

• Abolishes the elected office of Cobb County surveyor effective January 1, 2029.
• Gives the Cobb County governing authority the power to appoint a county surveyor after that date instead of holding an election.
• Allows the appointing resolution to set a specific term of service, or otherwise makes the position an indefinite term serving at the commission's pleasure.
• Requires future successors to the office to be appointed in the same manner.
• Requires any appointed county surveyor to meet the qualifications listed in O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2(b)(1).
• Sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law.

Cobb County residents and voters, who would no longer elect this official; the current and future Cobb County surveyors, who would be appointed rather than elected after 2029; and the Cobb County governing authority, which gains the power to appoint and set terms for the position.

Once the change takes effect, Cobb County voters would lose the ability to elect their county surveyor, and the county commission would instead choose who holds the job and for how long, shifting accountability for the position from the ballot box to appointed officials.

• Section 1 abolishes the elected office of Cobb County surveyor as of January 1, 2029, using authority granted by O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2.1.
• Section 1 gives the Cobb County governing authority appointment power and lets the appointing resolution set the term, defaulting to an indefinite term at the authority's pleasure.
• Section 1 requires appointed county surveyors, including successors, to meet the qualifications in O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2(b)(1).
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's approval or the date the bill becomes law without approval.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 688
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-27House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)Primary sponsor
• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)
• Sheila Jones (D, HD-060)
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• Joseph Gullett (R, HD-019)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (20 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #772

2. PassedSenate voteApril 2, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927

• Cobb County government
• local elections
• county surveyor
• appointed offices