HB 738: Butts County; appointment of county surveyor; provide

Butts County currently elects its county surveyor, a local official who handles land surveying matters for the county. This bill abolishes that elected office and instead gives the Butts County governing authority (the county commission) the power to appoint someone to the job. The person appointed must meet the same qualifications already required by state law (O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2) for county surveyors. Appointments last one year, and each successor must also be appointed to a one-year term. The change takes effect as soon as the Governor signs it, or automatically if it becomes law without a signature.

• Abolishes the elected office of county surveyor in Butts County, ending voter selection of that position.
• Gives the Butts County governing authority the power to appoint a county surveyor instead of holding an election.
• Sets each appointed surveyor's term at one year, with successors also appointed for one-year terms.
• Requires any appointee to meet the surveyor qualifications already set out in Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2).
• Takes effect immediately once the Governor signs it or it becomes law without a signature.

Butts County voters, who will no longer elect this position; the Butts County governing authority, which gains appointment power; and anyone seeking or holding the office of county surveyor in Butts County, who will now serve fixed one-year appointed terms.

The change shifts control over who holds the county surveyor position in Butts County from voters to the county's governing authority. Residents lose the ability to vote directly for this office, while the county commission gains ongoing authority to select and replace the surveyor annually.

• Section 1 abolishes the elected office of county surveyor in Butts County under the authority of O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2.1, which allows counties to convert this office from elected to appointed.
• Section 1 requires the county governing authority to appoint a qualified person to a one-year term, with successors also appointed annually.
• Section 1 requires appointees to meet the qualifications in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of O.C.G.A. § 36-7-2.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's approval, or automatic enactment if not signed.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 164
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2025-03-28Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2025-03-28Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2025-03-20Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
8. 2025-03-18House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)Patrocinador principal

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes18 de marzo de 2025

   171 a favor, 0 en contra (6 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #279

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado28 de marzo de 2025

   53 a favor, 0 en contra (1 sin votar, 2 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #313

• Butts County government
• county surveyor
• local government appointments
• Georgia local legislation