SB 469: Board of Commissioners of Forsyth County; term limits for members; provide

Currently, members of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners can run for reelection indefinitely, with no limit on how many terms they serve. This bill would change that, but only if voters agree. The bill adds a new section to the county's governing law saying that anyone elected to the board after January 1, 2027 who has served two full terms cannot run again until four years have passed since their last term ended. Terms already served before the law takes effect count toward this two-term limit. Before this can take effect, Forsyth County must hold a referendum on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026, asking voters to approve or reject the term limit. If a majority vote yes, the change takes effect January 1, 2027. If voters reject it or the election is not properly held, the entire bill is automatically repealed 365 days after the election date.

• Adds a rule barring Forsyth County commissioners elected after January 1, 2027 from running for a third consecutive term until four years after their second term ends.
• Counts terms served before the law's effective date toward the two-term limit.
• Requires the Forsyth County election superintendent to hold a referendum on November 3, 2026 asking voters to approve or reject the term limit.
• Makes the term limit take effect January 1, 2027 only if a majority of voters approve it in the referendum.
• Automatically repeals the entire Act 365 days after the election if voters reject it or the election is not properly conducted.
• Allows any Forsyth County voter to seek a court order (a writ of mandamus, a legal command to a public official) forcing the election superintendent to hold the vote if they fail to do so.

Current and future members of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, who would face a term limit if voters approve it; Forsyth County voters, who must decide the issue in a 2026 referendum; and the Forsyth County election superintendent, who is required to organize and certify the vote.

If approved, Forsyth County commissioners would no longer be able to serve indefinitely, changing who can run for local office and how long incumbents can stay in power. The outcome depends entirely on the November 2026 referendum, so no change happens unless voters say yes.

• Section 1 adds Section 2.1 to the 1964 Forsyth County commissioners Act, setting a two-term limit with a four-year waiting period before running again.
• Section 1 specifies that terms served before the law's effective date count toward the two-term limit.
• Section 2 requires a referendum on November 3, 2026, with the ballot language asking voters to approve or reject the two-term limit.
• Section 2 states the term limit becomes effective January 1, 2027 only if a majority of votes cast favor approval.
• Section 2 provides that the entire Act is automatically repealed 365 days after the election if voters reject it or the election is not held as required.
• Section 2 allows a Forsyth County voter to seek a court order compelling the election superintendent to conduct the referendum if they fail to do so.
• Section 3 makes the rest of the Act effective upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 611
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senado)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senado)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senado)
6. 2026-03-25House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2026-03-25House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2026-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Cámara de Representantes)

• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)Patrocinador principal
• Greg Dolezal (R, SD-027)
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)

1. AprobadaVotación: Senado24 de febrero de 2026

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

2. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes25 de marzo de 2026

   164 a favor, 0 en contra (8 sin votar, 4 ausentes)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #754

3. AprobadaVotación: Senado2 de abril de 2026

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

   Agree To House Substitute: Senate Vote #966

• term limits
• Forsyth County government
• local referendum
• county commissioners
• election law