Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB503 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 47 3412
2	2	House Bill 503
3	3	By: Representatives Draper of the 90
4	4	th
5	5	, Griffin of the 149
6	6	th
7	7	, Campbell of the 35
8	8	th
9	9	, and Myles
10	10	of the 126
11	11	th
12	12
13	13	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
14	14	AN ACT
15	15	To amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
16	16	1
17	17	elections and primaries generally, so as to provide that the State Election Board may only2
18	18	promulgate, amend, adopt, or repeal nonemergency rules and regulations in odd-numbered3
19	19	years; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4
20	20	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5
21	21	SECTION 1.6
22	22	Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and7
23	23	primaries generally, is amended by revising Code Section 21-2-35, relating to emergency8
24	24	rules and regulations, imminent peril requirement, and procedures, as follows:9
25	25	"21-2-35.10
26	26	(a) Except for emergency rule making as provided for in subsection (b) of this Code
27	27	11
28	28	section, the State Election Board shall only promulgate, amend, adopt, or repeal rules and12
29	29	regulations during odd-numbered years. After July 1, 2025, the State Election Board shall13
30	30	take no rule-making action upon nonemergency rules or regulations, including the initiation14
31	31	of any rule making, promulgation, amendment, adoption, or repeal of nonemergency rules15
32	32	or regulations in an even-numbered year.16
33	33	H. B. 503
34	34	- 1 - 25 LC 47 3412
35	35	(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, Chapter 3 of Title 38, relating to17
36	36	emergency management, or Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure18
37	37	Act,' to the contrary, the State Election Board may only adopt emergency rules or19
38	38	regulations in circumstances of imminent peril to public health, safety, or welfare. To20
39	39	adopt any such emergency rule or regulation, in addition to any other rule-making21
40	40	requirement of this chapter or Chapter 13 of Title 50, the State Election Board shall:22
41	41	(1) Give notice to the public of its intended action;23
42	42	(2) Immediately upon the setting of the date and time of the meeting at which such24
43	43	emergency rule or regulation is to be considered give notice by email of its intended25
44	44	action to:26
45	45	(A) The Governor;27
46	46	(B) The Lieutenant Governor;28
47	47	(C) The Speaker of the House of Representatives;29
48	48	(D) The chairpersons of the standing committees of each house of the General30
49	49	Assembly tasked with election matters;31
50	50	(E) The Secretary of State;32
51	51	(F) Legislative counsel; and33
52	52	(G) The chief executive officer of each political party registered pursuant to subsection34
53	53	(a) of Code Section 21-2-110; and35
54	54	(3) State in the notices required by paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection the nature36
55	55	of the emergency and the manner in which such emergency represents an imminent peril37
56	56	to public health, safety, or welfare.38
57	57	(b)(c) Upon adoption or promulgation of any emergency rule or regulation pursuant to39
58	58	subsection (b) of this Code section, a majority of the State Election Board shall certify in40
59	59	writing that such emergency rule or regulation was made in strict and exact compliance41
60	60	with the provisions of this chapter and subsection (e) of Code Section 50-13-4.42
61	61	H. B. 503
62	62	- 2 - 25 LC 47 3412
63	63	(c)(d) In the event of any conflict between this Code section and any provision of Chapter43
64	64	13 of Title 50, this Code section shall govern and supersede any such conflicting44
65	65	provision."45
66	66	SECTION 2.46
67	67	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.47
68	68	H. B. 503
69	69	- 3 -