HB 839: Jackson County; board of commissioners; filling vacancies; revise provisions

Jackson County's board of commissioners currently operates under a 1901 law, last amended in 1999, that spells out how vacancies on the board get filled. This bill rewrites subsection (b) of that law. Under the new language, if a vacancy opens up with at least 180 days left in the term, the county's election superintendent must call a special election within 15 days to fill the seat for the rest of the term, following Georgia's election law (O.C.G.A. Title 21, Chapter 2). The winner takes office as soon as the results are certified. If the vacancy is in the chairperson's seat, the vice chairperson takes on the chairperson's powers until a new chairperson is elected. The bill also lets the remaining board members appoint someone to temporarily hold the seat until the special election winner takes office, using the same appointment process already used elsewhere in the law.

• Requires Jackson County's election superintendent to call a special election within 15 days of a board vacancy if at least 180 days remain in the term.
• Directs that the special election be run under Georgia's election law (O.C.G.A. Title 21, Chapter 2), the Georgia Election Code.
• Lets the vice chairperson exercise the chairperson's powers if the chairperson's seat becomes vacant, until a successor is elected.
• Allows the remaining board members to appoint someone to temporarily fill a vacancy until the special election is resolved, using the county's existing appointment procedure.

Jackson County residents and voters, the county's election superintendent, current and future members of the Jackson County board of commissioners, and anyone who might be appointed or elected to temporarily or permanently fill a vacant seat.

The changes set clear timelines and procedures for keeping Jackson County's board of commissioners fully staffed when a seat opens up unexpectedly, including leadership continuity if the chairperson's seat is vacant and a way to have someone in place while a special election is arranged.

• Section 1 revises subsection (b) of Section 5 of the 1901 Jackson County commissioners Act, as amended in 1999.
• Paragraph (1) requires a special election within 15 days of a vacancy if 180 or more days remain in the term, conducted under the Georgia Election Code.
• Paragraph (1) also provides that the vice chairperson takes on chairperson duties if that seat is vacant, until a successor takes office.
• Paragraph (2) allows the remaining board members to appoint a temporary replacement using the same procedure as in subsection (c) of Section 5.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 239
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2025-04-02Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2025-04-02Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
8. 2025-03-31House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)Patrocinador principal
• Holt Persinger (R, HD-119)
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes31 de marzo de 2025

   165 a favor, 0 en contra (10 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Local Calendar Without Hbs 851 & 852: House Vote #342

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado2 de abril de 2025

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #381

• Jackson County government
• local elections
• county commissioners
• special elections