HB 378: State courts of counties; online publishing of terms; provide

Georgia's state courts (a type of county-level trial court separate from superior courts) operate on set 'terms,' which are scheduled periods during the year when the court conducts business. Currently there is no specific state law requiring clerks to publish this scheduling information online. This bill adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 15-7-41.1, to the law governing state courts of counties. It requires each state court clerk to publish and maintain information about the court's term dates in a prominent location on the court's public website. The bill does not set a specific effective date beyond the standard process, and it repeals any conflicting laws.

• Adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 15-7-41.1, requiring state court clerks to publish court term dates online.
• Requires the information to be kept in a 'prominent location' on the court's public website, not buried in an obscure page.
• Requires clerks to maintain, not just post once, this term information, implying ongoing updates.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new publishing requirement.

State court clerks in Georgia's counties, who must now publish and maintain term date information online, and members of the public, attorneys, and litigants who rely on knowing when a state court is in session.

People who need to file cases, appear in court, or track deadlines tied to a court's term would have an easier, more reliable way to find that information online instead of having to call or visit the courthouse.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 15-7-41.1 to Article 3 of Chapter 7 of Title 15, requiring state court clerks to publish and maintain term of court information on the court's public website in a prominent location.
• Section 2 repeals any laws or parts of laws that conflict with this new requirement.

1. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
2. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senado)
3. 2025-03-25Senate Read Second Time (Senado)
4. 2025-03-21Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
5. 2025-03-04Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
6. 2025-03-03House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2025-03-03House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2025-02-21House Committee Favorably Reported (Cámara de Representantes)

• Martin Momtahan (R, HD-017)Patrocinador principal
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
• Matt Reeves (R, HD-099)
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes3 de marzo de 2025

   162 a favor, 11 en contra (4 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #132

• state courts
• court transparency
• government websites
• court clerks