HB 1588: Cobb County; salaries of chief deputy sheriff, assistant chief deputy sheriff, and executive assistant to the sheriff shall be determined by the sheriff; provide

Under current law, salaries for top staff in the Cobb County sheriff's office are set through a mix of county government approval processes. This bill changes that for three specific positions: the chief deputy sheriff, the assistant chief deputy, and the executive assistant to the sheriff. It amends a 1949 Georgia law that moved Cobb County's clerk of superior court, sheriff, and probate judge from a fee-based pay system to a salary system. The bill rewrites subsections (b) through (d) of Section 5 of that 1949 Act so the sheriff, rather than the county governing authority, determines the starting salary for these three roles. Salary increases after that still require approval from both the sheriff and the Cobb County board of commissioners. All three positions continue to serve at the pleasure of the sheriff and are paid monthly from county funds. The bill repeals conflicting laws and applies only to Cobb County.

• Gives the Cobb County sheriff authority to set the initial salary of the chief deputy sheriff, instead of leaving that entirely to county pay-setting rules.
• Gives the sheriff authority to set the initial salary of the assistant chief deputy, a position created under the 1949 Act with specific education or law enforcement experience requirements.
• Gives the sheriff authority to set the initial salary of the executive assistant to the sheriff, whose qualifications the sheriff himself or herself defines.
• Keeps a check on later pay changes by requiring that any salary increase for these three positions be approved by both the sheriff and the Cobb County board of commissioners.
• Preserves the existing rule that all three positions serve at the pleasure of the sheriff and can receive county-wide cost-of-living or merit raises.

The bill affects the Cobb County sheriff's office, specifically the chief deputy sheriff, the assistant chief deputy, and the executive assistant to the sheriff, as well as the Cobb County board of commissioners, which retains a role in approving future salary increases for those positions.

The sheriff gains more direct control over how much these three top aides are initially paid, which could speed up hiring decisions or change pay structure within the office, while the county commission keeps a check on future raises through its approval power.

• Section 1 amends subsection (b) of the 1949 Cobb County pay Act so the chief deputy sheriff's salary is set by the sheriff, with the county's $4,880 per year minimum for other additional deputies left unchanged.
• Section 1 revises subsection (c) so the assistant chief deputy's salary is determined by the sheriff, keeping the existing education and experience qualifications for that role.
• Section 1 revises subsection (d) so the executive assistant to the sheriff's salary is determined by the sheriff, who also sets that position's qualifications.
• Each revised subsection requires that any subsequent salary increase for these positions be approved by both the sheriff and the Cobb County board of commissioners.
• Section 1 retains subsection (e), which entitles the chief deputy, assistant chief deputy, other deputies, and executive assistant to any cost-of-living or merit increase the county approves for its employees.
• Section 2 repeals any laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 689
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2026-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2026-03-27Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
8. 2026-03-27House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Terry Cummings (D, HD-039)Patrocinador principal
• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)
• Michael Smith (D, HD-041)
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Solomon Adesanya (D, HD-043)
• Gabriel Sanchez (D, HD-042)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes27 de marzo de 2026

   153 a favor, 0 en contra (20 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #772

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado2 de abril de 2026

   49 a favor, 0 en contra (3 sin votar, 2 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #927

• Cobb County government
• sheriff's office pay
• local legislation
• county salaries