The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Georgia updates qualification requirements and practicing law rules for probate judges in certain counties
Last action · May 14, 2025: House Date Signed by GovernorSponsors: Tyler Smith and 6 others
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
House Bill 180 modifies eligibility requirements for probate judges in counties with more than 90,000 residents, prohibiting private law practice and requiring specific age, experience, and bar membership credentials. The law also establishes a requirement for candidates and protects past judicial decisions from being overturned solely due to qualification challenges.
Candidates for probate judge in larger Georgia counties must meet stricter professional and bar-standing credentials, while current officeholders retain protections for reelection and past rulings.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Probate judges
Probate judges in qualifying counties are barred from private legal practice and must satisfy specific experience and bar standing requirements.
Probate court candidates
Candidates must file a supplemental affidavit confirming their age, bar admission duration, and good standing.
Key Facts
- Probate judges elected in applicable counties are prohibited from engaging in the private practice of law.
- Applies to counties with a population of more than 90,000 persons based on the 2010 decennial census or future censuses.
- Candidates must have attained the age of 30 years.
- Candidates must have been admitted to practice law for seven years preceding election.
Show all 8 facts
- Candidates must be members in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia.
- Candidates must file a supplemental affidavit at the time of qualification affirming they meet all required qualifications.
- Judges holding office on or after June 30, 2000, are permitted to continue holding office and seek reelection.
- No official action or ruling of a probate judge may be overturned solely based on the seven-year law practice qualification requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which counties are affected by these judge qualification rules?
Can current probate judges keep their positions if they were already in office?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
15 actions- Jul 1, 2025Georgia General AssemblyEffective Date
- May 14, 2025HouseEnrolledHouse Date Signed by Governor
- May 14, 2025GovernorEnrolledAct 253
- Apr 8, 2025HouseHouse Sent to Governor
- Apr 2, 2025SenateSenate Third Read
- Apr 2, 2025SenateFloorSenate Passed/Adopted
Show 9 earlier actions
- Mar 13, 2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
- Mar 11, 2025SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported
- Mar 6, 2025SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
- Mar 4, 2025HouseHouse Third Readers
- Mar 4, 2025HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted
- Feb 4, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported
- Feb 3, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Jan 30, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Jan 29, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
Version history & redline
2 versions on fileLobbying 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
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools