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Georgia creates senior municipal court judge office and new court clerks' council
Original title: Local government; Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council; create
Last action · May 12, 2026: House Date Signed by GovernorSponsors: Bill Yearta and 6 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.
What This Bill Does
Georgia House Bill 304 establishes the new office of for former judges with at least ten years of service and creates the official Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council for court administrative staff.
Why it matters
Former municipal judges who meet service and bar admission requirements can now attain senior status, while municipal court administrative staff gain a formal state agency representing their profession and training.
Background
- Municipal courts in Georgia handle local ordinance violations, traffic offenses, and certain misdemeanor cases. context
- Prior to this act, municipal court judges had a statewide council, but administrative court clerks lacked a corresponding official state council. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Former municipal court judges
Former judges with ten or more years of service gain the ability to apply for senior municipal court judge status and its associated privileges.
Directly affected
Municipal court staff
Administrative personnel are organized into a newly established state council aimed at assisting in their duties and training.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to become a senior municipal court judge under this law?
Any former judge of a municipal court or a court exercising municipal court jurisdiction who is no longer serving and has previously served for an aggregate period of at least ten years may apply.
Who makes up the newly created Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council?
The council is composed of the primary persons most directly responsible for the administration of each municipal court in the state, along with their support staff.
How are the administrative expenses of the Municipal Court Clerks' Council funded?
Expenses are paid from state funds appropriated for that purpose as well as other appropriate sources, including grants, gifts, and public or private funds.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
18 actions- Jul 1, 2026Georgia General AssemblyEffective Date
- May 12, 2026HouseEnrolledHouse Date Signed by Governor
- May 12, 2026GovernorEnrolledAct 637
- Apr 6, 2026HouseHouse Sent to Governor
- Mar 27, 2026HouseFloorHouse Agreed Senate Amend or Sub
- Mar 25, 2026SenateSenate Third Read
Show 12 earlier actions
- Mar 25, 2026SenateFloorSenate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
- Mar 20, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Jan 12, 2026SenateSenate Recommitted
- Mar 27, 2025SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
- Mar 27, 2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
- Mar 6, 2025SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
- Mar 4, 2025HouseHouse Third Readers
- Mar 4, 2025HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted
- Feb 26, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported
- Feb 10, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Feb 6, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Feb 5, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
Version history & redline
4 versions on fileComparing Sen Ctee Sub LC 47 4248S → HB 304/AP*
removed addedOfficial text
26 removed: LC 47 4248S
The Senate Committee on Judiciary offered the following
substitute to HB removed: 304:
added: 304/AP
House Bill 304 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Yearta of the 152nd , Gullett of the 19 th , Gunter of the 8 th , Kelley of the
16 th , Reeves of the 99th , and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 32 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to municipal
[…]
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Voting Record
Agree to Senate Substitute
Total
176
- Yes
- 159
- No
- 2
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 4
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 11
How they voted (176)
Carmen RiceParty not recordedyes
Mekyah McQueenParty not recordedyes
Charlice ByrdParty not recordedno
Eric GislerParty not recordedyes
Mack JacksonParty not recordedexcused
Carolyn HugleyParty not recordedyes
Matt DubnikParty not recordedyes
Scott HiltonParty not recordednot voting
Betsy HollandParty not recordedyes
John CarsonParty not recordedyes
Rob LeverettParty not recordedyes
Michelle AuParty not recordedyes
John CorbettParty not recordedyes
Martin MomtahanParty not recordedyes
Josh BonnerParty not recordedyes
Akbar AliParty not recordedyes
Brian PrinceParty not recordedexcused
Chuck EfstrationParty not recordedyes
Jason RidleyParty not recordedyes
Eric BellParty not recordednot voting
Lydia GlaizeParty not recordedyes
Lee HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Shea RobertsParty not recordedyes
Darlene TaylorParty not recordedyes
152 more members
Sylvia Wayfer BakerParty not recordedexcused
Steven MeeksParty not recordedyes
Inga WillisParty not recordedyes
Lauren McDonaldParty not recordedyes
Mike CheokasParty not recordedyes
Lynn SmithParty not recordedyes
Al WilliamsParty not recordedexcused
Demetrius DouglasParty not recordedyes
Houston GainesParty not recordedyes
John LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Regina Lewis-WardParty not recordedexcused
Terry CummingsParty not recordedyes
Mike CameronParty not recordedyes
Sharon CooperParty not recordedyes
Bill YeartaParty not recordedyes
Stan GunterParty not recordedyes
David ClarkParty not recordedyes
Sandra ScottParty not recordedyes
Jaclyn FordParty not recordedyes
Doreen CarterParty not recordedyes
Karen LuptonParty not recordedyes
Phil OlaleyeParty not recordedyes
Robert DickeyParty not recordedyes
Matthew GambillParty not recordedyes
David JenkinsParty not recordedyes
Floyd GriffinParty not recordedyes
Dar'shun KendrickParty not recordedyes
Edna JacksonParty not recordedyes
Kasey CarpenterParty not recordedyes
Will WadeParty not recordedyes
Saira DraperParty not recordedexcused
Rick TownsendParty not recordedyes
Anne WestbrookParty not recordedexcused
Kimberly NewParty not recordedyes
Karlton HowardParty not recordedyes
Gabriel SanchezParty not recordedyes
Rick JasperseParty not recordedyes
Victor AndersonParty not recordedyes
Mark NewtonParty not recordedyes
L.C. MylesParty not recordedexcused
Shaw BlackmonParty not recordedyes
Billy MitchellParty not recordedyes
Alan PowellParty not recordedyes
Noelle KahaianParty not recordedno
Chuck MartinParty not recordedyes
Noel WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Chas CannonParty not recordedyes
Sam ParkParty not recordedyes
Gary RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Steven SainzParty not recordedyes
Dewey McClainParty not recordedyes
Bruce WilliamsonParty not recordedyes
Lehman FranklinParty not recordedyes
Viola DavisParty not recordedyes
Tyler SmithParty not recordedyes
Carter BarrettParty not recordedyes
Gabe OkoyeParty not recordedyes
Karen MathiakParty not recordedyes
Ruwa RommanParty not recordedyes
Jordan RidleyParty not recordedyes
Matt HatchettParty not recordedyes
Clint CroweParty not recordedyes
Nissa JonesParty not recordedexcused
Spencer FryeParty not recordedyes
Mitchell HornerParty not recordedyes
Robert FlournoyParty not recordedyes
Katie DempseyParty not recordedyes
Bethany BallardParty not recordedyes
Matt BartonParty not recordedyes
Robert DawsonParty not recordedyes
Ron StephensParty not recordedyes
Scott HolcombParty not recordedyes
Joe CampbellParty not recordedyes
Tim FlemingParty not recordedyes
Trey RhodesParty not recordedyes
Esther PanitchParty not recordedyes
Sandy DonatucciParty not recordedyes
Mitchell ScogginsParty not recordedyes
Chris ErwinParty not recordedyes
Jesse PetreaParty not recordedyes
Lisa CampbellParty not recordedyes
Omari CrawfordParty not recordedyes
Kim SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Danny MathisParty not recordedyes
Brent CoxParty not recordedyes
David WilkersonParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann SantosParty not recordedyes
Bill WerkheiserParty not recordedyes
Jon BurnsParty not recordednot voting
Angela MooreParty not recordedyes
Jan JonesParty not recordedyes
Bill HitchensParty not recordedyes
Angie O'SteenParty not recordedyes
Soo HongParty not recordedyes
Todd JonesParty not recordedyes
Debbie BucknerParty not recordedyes
Steve TarvinParty not recordedyes
Jutt HowardParty not recordedyes
Karla DrennerParty not recordedyes
Joseph GullettParty not recordedyes
Debra BazemoreParty not recordedyes
Long TranParty not recordedyes
Sheila JonesParty not recordedyes
Miriam ParisParty not recordedyes
Rhonda TaylorParty not recordedyes
Trey KelleyParty not recordedyes
Bill FincherParty not recordedyes
Deborah SilcoxParty not recordedyes
Tangie HerringParty not recordedyes
Derrick JacksonParty not recordedyes
Butch ParrishParty not recordedyes
Gerald GreeneParty not recordedyes
Rhonda BurnoughParty not recordedyes
Don ParsonsParty not recordedyes
Matt ReevesParty not recordedyes
Yasmin NealParty not recordedyes
Solomon AdesanyaParty not recordedyes
Eddie LumsdenParty not recordedyes
David HuddlestonParty not recordedyes
Michael SmithParty not recordedyes
Segun AdeyinaParty not recordedyes
Ginny EhrhartParty not recordedyes
El-Mahdi HollyParty not recordedyes
Holt PersingerParty not recordedyes
Dale WashburnParty not recordedexcused
Emory DunahooParty not recordedyes
Brad ThomasParty not recordedyes
James BurchettParty not recordedyes
Stacey EvansParty not recordedyes
Devan SeabaughParty not recordedyes
Leesa HaganParty not recordedyes
Buddy DeLoachParty not recordedyes
Derrick McCollumParty not recordedyes
Imani BarnesParty not recordedyes
Teddy ReeseParty not recordednot voting
Rey MartinezParty not recordedyes
Mary Frances WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Arlene BecklesParty not recordedyes
Vance SmithParty not recordedyes
Jasmine ClarkParty not recordedyes
Johnny ChastainParty not recordedyes
Beth CampParty not recordedyes
Patty Marie StinsonParty not recordedyes
Carl GilliardParty not recordedyes
Mary Margaret OliverParty not recordedyes
Kimberly AlexanderParty not recordedyes
Park CannonParty not recordedyes
Rob CliftonParty not recordedyes
David SampsonParty not recordedyes
Tanya MillerParty not recordedexcused
Marvin LimParty not recordedyes
Bryce BerryParty not recordedyes
Show 2 earlier roll calls
PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE
Total
54
- Yes
- 51
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 2
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 1
How they voted (54)
Chuck HufstetlerParty not recordedyes
Ed SetzlerParty not recordedyes
Nikki MerrittParty not recordedyes
Harold JonesParty not recordednot voting
Lee AndersonParty not recordedyes
Russ GoodmanParty not recordedyes
Derek MallowParty not recordedyes
Carden SummersParty not recordedyes
Larry WalkerParty not recordedyes
Jaha HowardParty not recordedyes
Gail DavenportParty not recordedyes
Elena ParentParty not recordedyes
Kim JacksonParty not recordedyes
Sheikh RahmanParty not recordedyes
Nan OrrockParty not recordedyes
Chuck PayneParty not recordedyes
Matt BrassParty not recordedyes
Jason AnavitarteParty not recordedyes
Sally HarrellParty not recordedyes
Donzella JamesParty not recordednot voting
Steven McNeelParty not recordedyes
Ed HarbisonParty not recordedyes
Steve GoochParty not recordedyes
Jason DickersonParty not recordedyes
30 more members
Tonya AndersonParty not recordedyes
Emanuel JonesParty not recordedyes
Frank GinnParty not recordedyes
David LucasParty not recordedyes
Max BurnsParty not recordedyes
Brian StricklandParty not recordedyes
Randal ManghamParty not recordedyes
Billy HickmanParty not recordedyes
Rick WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Bo HatchettParty not recordedyes
Freddie Powell SimsParty not recordedexcused
Randy RobertsonParty not recordedyes
Josh McLaurinParty not recordedyes
Marty HarbinParty not recordedyes
Kenya WicksParty not recordedyes
Shawn StillParty not recordedyes
Drew EcholsParty not recordedyes
RaShaun KempParty not recordedyes
Sam WatsonParty not recordedyes
Sonya HalpernParty not recordedyes
Tim BeardenParty not recordedyes
Doc RhettParty not recordedyes
John AlbersParty not recordedyes
Clint DixonParty not recordedyes
Mike HodgesParty not recordedyes
Blake TilleryParty not recordedyes
Greg DolezalParty not recordedyes
Kay KirkpatrickParty not recordedyes
Bill CowsertParty not recordedyes
Ben WatsonParty not recordedyes
PASSAGE
Total
174
- Yes
- 166
- No
- 2
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 3
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 3
How they voted (174)
Lydia GlaizeParty not recordedyes
Matt ReevesParty not recordedyes
Karlton HowardParty not recordedyes
Sam ParkParty not recordedyes
Doreen CarterParty not recordedyes
Lynn SmithParty not recordedyes
Michelle AuParty not recordedyes
Chris ErwinParty not recordedyes
Teddy ReeseParty not recordedyes
Carolyn HugleyParty not recordedyes
Spencer FryeParty not recordedyes
Rhonda BurnoughParty not recordedyes
Brent CoxParty not recordedyes
Leesa HaganParty not recordedyes
Miriam ParisParty not recordedyes
Dar'shun KendrickParty not recordedyes
Floyd GriffinParty not recordedyes
Derrick McCollumParty not recordedyes
Rick TownsendParty not recordedyes
Brad ThomasParty not recordedyes
Ginny EhrhartParty not recordedyes
Jon BurnsParty not recordednot voting
Debbie BucknerParty not recordedyes
L.C. MylesParty not recordedyes
150 more members
Mike CameronParty not recordedyes
Ruwa RommanParty not recordedyes
Al WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Mitchell ScogginsParty not recordedyes
Angela MooreParty not recordedyes
Sandra ScottParty not recordedyes
Chuck EfstrationParty not recordedyes
Noel WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Jan JonesParty not recordedyes
Jordan RidleyParty not recordedyes
Sharon HendersonParty not recordedyes
Soo HongParty not recordedyes
Rey MartinezParty not recordedyes
Chuck MartinParty not recordedyes
Chas CannonParty not recordedyes
David HuddlestonParty not recordedyes
Rob CliftonParty not recordedyes
Will WadeParty not recordedyes
Kasey CarpenterParty not recordedyes
Dale WashburnParty not recordedyes
Clint CroweParty not recordedyes
Martin MomtahanParty not recordedyes
Edna JacksonParty not recordedyes
Scott HiltonParty not recordedyes
Devan SeabaughParty not recordedyes
Dewey McClainParty not recordedyes
John CorbettParty not recordedyes
James BurchettParty not recordedyes
Lee HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Butch ParrishParty not recordedyes
Darlene TaylorParty not recordedyes
Matt HatchettParty not recordedyes
Robert DickeyParty not recordedyes
Bill WerkheiserParty not recordedyes
Shaw BlackmonParty not recordedyes
Long TranParty not recordedyes
Billy MitchellParty not recordedyes
Arlene BecklesParty not recordedyes
El-Mahdi HollyParty not recordedyes
John LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Gary RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Jason RidleyParty not recordedyes
Alan PowellParty not recordedyes
Steven MeeksParty not recordedyes
Rick JasperseParty not recordednot voting
Buddy DeLoachParty not recordedyes
Lauren McDonaldParty not recordedyes
Angie O'SteenParty not recordedyes
Regina Lewis-WardParty not recordedyes
Gabe OkoyeParty not recordedyes
David SampsonParty not recordedyes
Jasmine ClarkParty not recordedyes
David JenkinsParty not recordedyes
Noelle KahaianParty not recordedno
Lisa CampbellParty not recordedyes
Steven SainzParty not recordedyes
Matthew GambillParty not recordedyes
Terry CummingsParty not recordedyes
Mack JacksonParty not recordedyes
Sylvia Wayfer BakerParty not recordedyes
Debra BazemoreParty not recordedyes
Mary Frances WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Yasmin NealParty not recordedexcused
Josh BonnerParty not recordedyes
Derrick JacksonParty not recordedyes
Eric BellParty not recordedyes
Betsy HollandParty not recordednot voting
Holt PersingerParty not recordedyes
Bethany BallardParty not recordedyes
Charlice ByrdParty not recordedno
Shea RobertsParty not recordedyes
Karen LuptonParty not recordedyes
Sheila JonesParty not recordedyes
Bryce BerryParty not recordedyes
Danny MathisParty not recordedyes
John CarsonParty not recordedyes
Joe CampbellParty not recordedyes
Tyler SmithParty not recordedyes
Tanya MillerParty not recordedyes
Esther PanitchParty not recordedyes
David WilkersonParty not recordedyes
Matt BartonParty not recordedyes
Mark NewtonParty not recordedyes
Nissa JonesParty not recordedyes
Tim FlemingParty not recordedyes
Jutt HowardParty not recordedyes
Brian PrinceParty not recordedyes
Park CannonParty not recordedyes
Scott HolcombParty not recordedyes
Carmen RiceParty not recordedyes
Beth CampParty not recordedyes
Houston GainesParty not recordedyes
Eddie LumsdenParty not recordedyes
Sharon CooperParty not recordedyes
Karen MathiakParty not recordedyes
Carl GilliardParty not recordedyes
Viola DavisParty not recordedyes
David ClarkParty not recordedyes
Don ParsonsParty not recordedyes
Omari CrawfordParty not recordedyes
Stan GunterParty not recordedexcused
Rob LeverettParty not recordedyes
Steve TarvinParty not recordedyes
Solomon AdesanyaParty not recordedyes
Vance SmithParty not recordedyes
Kimberly AlexanderParty not recordedyes
Gerald GreeneParty not recordedyes
Bill YeartaParty not recordedyes
Marvin LimParty not recordedyes
Rhonda TaylorParty not recordedyes
Imani BarnesParty not recordedyes
Anne WestbrookParty not recordedyes
Joseph GullettParty not recordedyes
Carter BarrettParty not recordedyes
Katie DempseyParty not recordedyes
Phil OlaleyeParty not recordedyes
Emory DunahooParty not recordedyes
Patty Marie StinsonParty not recordedexcused
Kim SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Robert DawsonParty not recordedyes
Kimberly NewParty not recordedyes
Bill HitchensParty not recordedyes
Inga WillisParty not recordedyes
Michael SmithParty not recordedyes
Karla DrennerParty not recordedyes
Bruce WilliamsonParty not recordedyes
Todd JonesParty not recordedyes
Jaclyn FordParty not recordedyes
Mekyah McQueenParty not recordedyes
Jesse PetreaParty not recordedyes
Robert FlournoyParty not recordedyes
Johnny ChastainParty not recordedyes
Sandy DonatucciParty not recordedyes
Stacey EvansParty not recordedyes
Lehman FranklinParty not recordedyes
Mitchell HornerParty not recordedyes
Victor AndersonParty not recordedyes
Ron StephensParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann SantosParty not recordedyes
Demetrius DouglasParty not recordedyes
Matt DubnikParty not recordedyes
Trey KelleyParty not recordedyes
Mike CheokasParty not recordedyes
Trey RhodesParty not recordedyes
Segun AdeyinaParty not recordedyes
Gabriel SanchezParty not recordedyes
Mary Margaret OliverParty not recordedyes
Saira DraperParty not recordedyes
Tangie HerringParty not recordedyes
Deborah SilcoxParty not recordedyes
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift95% confidence
Formalization of Municipal Court Administration
The legislation transitions municipal court administrative staff from isolated local units into an organized state-level agency council with broad corporate powers.
Connected Entities
OrganizationState Bar of Georgia“Professional licensing body for attorneys and qualified senior judges.”Map →
OrganizationCouncil of Municipal Court Judges“Judicial council responsible for processing senior judge applications.”Map →
OrganizationGeorgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council“Newly created state agency composed of municipal court staff.”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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