Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House 6 R cosponsors

HB 397 — Elections; allow municipalities to opt in to providing advance voting on Saturdays for municipal elections

Last action — Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 11, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 58% · moderate confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to allow municipalities to opt in to providing advance voting on Saturdays for municipal elections; to revise provisions related to the timelines for calling special elections and the dates on which special elections can be held; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute

  2. Senate Third Read

  3. Senate Engrossed

  4. Senate Read Second Time

  5. Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

  6. Senate Read and Referred

  7. House Passed/Adopted By Substitute

  8. House Third Readers

  9. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

  10. House Withdrawn, Recommitted

  11. House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute

  12. House Second Readers

  13. House First Readers

  14. House Hopper

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 241 not signed on · 37 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (241)

241 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 241 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

MOTION TO ENGROSS: SB 214, HB 66, HB 79, HB 129, HB 134, HB 141, HB 370, HB 397, HB 445, HB 463, HB 532, HB 586, HB 652

Passed 31 Yea · 24 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 31101
Democrat 02300
Total 312401
% of votes cast 55%43%0%2%
How each member voted (56)
Member Party Vote
David Lucas Democrat Nay
Derek Mallow Democrat Nay
Donzella James Democrat Nay
Ed Harbison Democrat Nay
Elena Parent Democrat Nay
Emanuel Jones Democrat Nay
Freddie Powell Sims Democrat Nay
Gail Davenport Democrat Nay
Harold Jones II Democrat Nay
Jason Esteves Democrat Nay
Josh McLaurin Democrat Nay
Kenya Wicks Democrat Nay
Kim Jackson Democrat Nay
Michael 'Doc' Rhett Democrat Nay
Nabilah Parkes Democrat Nay
Nan Orrock Democrat Nay
Nikki Merritt Democrat Nay
RaShaun Kemp Democrat Nay
Randal Mangham Democrat Nay
Sally Harrell Democrat Nay
Sheikh Rahman Democrat Nay
Sonya Halpern Democrat Nay
Tonya Anderson Democrat Nay
Ben Watson Republican Yea
Bill Cowsert Republican Yea
Billy Hickman Republican Yea
Blake Tillery Republican Not Voting
Bo Hatchett Republican Yea
Brandon Beach Republican Yea
Brian Strickland Republican Yea
Carden Summers Republican Yea
Chuck Hufstetler Republican Yea
Chuck Payne Republican Yea
Clint Dixon Republican Yea
Colton Moore Republican Nay
Drew Echols Republican Yea
Ed Setzler Republican Yea
Frank Ginn Republican Yea
Greg Dolezal Republican Yea
Jason Anavitarte Republican Yea
John Albers Republican Yea
John F. Kennedy Republican Yea
Kay Kirkpatrick Republican Yea
Larry Walker, III Republican Yea
Lee Anderson Republican Yea
Marty Harbin Republican Yea
Matt Brass Republican Yea
Max Burns Republican Yea
Mike Hodges Republican Yea
Randy Robertson Republican Yea
Rick Williams Republican Yea
Russ Goodman Republican Yea
Sam Watson Republican Yea
Shawn Still Republican Yea
Steve Gooch Republican Yea
Timothy Bearden Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Passed 33 Yea · 23 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 33000
Democrat 02300
Total 332300
% of votes cast 59%41%0%0%
How each member voted (56)
Member Party Vote
David Lucas Democrat Nay
Derek Mallow Democrat Nay
Donzella James Democrat Nay
Ed Harbison Democrat Nay
Elena Parent Democrat Nay
Emanuel Jones Democrat Nay
Freddie Powell Sims Democrat Nay
Gail Davenport Democrat Nay
Harold Jones II Democrat Nay
Jason Esteves Democrat Nay
Josh McLaurin Democrat Nay
Kenya Wicks Democrat Nay
Kim Jackson Democrat Nay
Michael 'Doc' Rhett Democrat Nay
Nabilah Parkes Democrat Nay
Nan Orrock Democrat Nay
Nikki Merritt Democrat Nay
RaShaun Kemp Democrat Nay
Randal Mangham Democrat Nay
Sally Harrell Democrat Nay
Sheikh Rahman Democrat Nay
Sonya Halpern Democrat Nay
Tonya Anderson Democrat Nay
Ben Watson Republican Yea
Bill Cowsert Republican Yea
Billy Hickman Republican Yea
Blake Tillery Republican Yea
Bo Hatchett Republican Yea
Brandon Beach Republican Yea
Brian Strickland Republican Yea
Carden Summers Republican Yea
Chuck Hufstetler Republican Yea
Chuck Payne Republican Yea
Clint Dixon Republican Yea
Colton Moore Republican Yea
Drew Echols Republican Yea
Ed Setzler Republican Yea
Frank Ginn Republican Yea
Greg Dolezal Republican Yea
Jason Anavitarte Republican Yea
John Albers Republican Yea
John F. Kennedy Republican Yea
Kay Kirkpatrick Republican Yea
Larry Walker, III Republican Yea
Lee Anderson Republican Yea
Marty Harbin Republican Yea
Matt Brass Republican Yea
Max Burns Republican Yea
Mike Hodges Republican Yea
Randy Robertson Republican Yea
Rick Williams Republican Yea
Russ Goodman Republican Yea
Sam Watson Republican Yea
Shawn Still Republican Yea
Steve Gooch Republican Yea
Timothy Bearden Republican Yea

Official roll call →

PASSAGE

Passed 159 Yea · 13 Nay · 8 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 68705
Republican 91603
Total 1591308
% of votes cast 88%7%0%4%
How each member voted (180)
Member Party Vote
Al Williams Democrat Yea
Angela Moore Democrat Yea
Anissa Jones Democrat Yea
Anne Allen Westbrook Democrat Yea
Arlene Beckles Democrat Yea
Betsy Holland Democrat Yea
Billy Mitchell Democrat Yea
Brian Prince Democrat Yea
Bryce Berry Democrat Yea
Carl Gilliard Democrat Yea
Carolyn Hugley Democrat Yea
Dar'shun Kendrick Democrat Yea
David Sampson Democrat Yea
David Wilkerson Democrat Yea
Debbie Buckner Democrat Yea
Debra Bazemore Democrat Yea
Demetrius Douglas Democrat Yea
Derrick Jackson Democrat Yea
Dewey McClain Democrat Yea
Dexter Sharper Democrat Yea
Doreen Carter Democrat Nay
Edna Jackson Democrat Not Voting
El-Mahdi Holly Democrat Yea
Eric Bell Democrat Yea
Esther Panitch Democrat Yea
Floyd Griffin Democrat Yea
Gabe Okoye Democrat Yea
Gabriel Sanchez Democrat Yea
Imani Barnes Democrat Yea
Inga Willis Democrat Yea
Jasmine Clark Democrat Yea
Karen Bennett Democrat Yea
Karen Lupton Democrat Not Voting
Karla Drenner Democrat Yea
Karlton Howard Democrat Nay
Kim Schofield Democrat Nay
Kimberly Alexander Democrat Yea
L.C. Myles Democrat Yea
Lisa Campbell Democrat Yea
Long Tran Democrat Yea
Lydia Glaize Democrat Yea
Lynn Heffner Democrat Yea
Mack Jackson Democrat Yea
Marvin Lim Democrat Yea
Mary Ann Santos Democrat Yea
Mary Frances Williams Democrat Yea
Mary Oliver Democrat Yea
Mekyah McQueen Democrat Yea
Michael Smith Democrat Yea
Michelle Au Democrat Yea
Miriam Paris Democrat Yea
Omari Crawford Democrat Yea
Park Cannon Democrat Yea
Patty Marie Stinson Democrat Not Voting
Phil Olaleye Democrat Yea
Regina Lewis-Ward Democrat Yea
Rhonda Burnough Democrat Nay
Rhonda Taylor Democrat Nay
Robert Dawson Democrat Yea
Robert Flournoy Democrat Yea
Ruwa Romman Democrat Yea
Saira Draper Democrat Yea
Sam Park Democrat Yea
Sandra Scott Democrat Not Voting
Scott Holcomb Democrat Yea
Segun Adeyina Democrat Yea
Sharon Henderson Democrat Yea
Shea Roberts Democrat Nay
Sheila Jones Democrat Yea
Shelly Hutchinson Democrat Not Voting
Solomon Adesanya Democrat Yea
Spencer Frye Democrat Yea
Stacey Evans Democrat Yea
Sylvia Wayfer Baker Democrat Yea
Tangie Herring Democrat Yea
Tanya Miller Democrat Yea
Terry Cummings Democrat Yea
Tremaine Reese Democrat Yea
Viola Davis Democrat Nay
Yasmin Neal Democrat Yea
Alan Powell Republican Yea
Angie O'Steen Republican Yea
Beth Camp Republican Yea
Bethany Ballard Republican Yea
Bill Hitchens Republican Yea
Bill Werkheiser Republican Yea
Bill Yearta Republican Yea
Brad Thomas Republican Nay
Brent Cox Republican Yea
Bruce Williamson Republican Yea
Buddy DeLoach Republican Not Voting
Butch Parrish Republican Yea
Carmen Rice Republican Yea
Carter Barrett Republican Yea
Charles Martin Republican Yea
Charlice Byrd Republican Yea
Chas Cannon Republican Yea
Chris Erwin Republican Yea
Chuck Efstration Republican Yea
Clint Crowe Republican Yea
Dale Washburn Republican Yea
Danny Mathis Republican Yea
Darlene Taylor Republican Yea
David Clark Republican Yea
David Huddleston Republican Yea
David Jenkins Republican Yea
Deborah Silcox Republican Yea
Derrick McCollum Republican Yea
Devan Seabaugh Republican Yea
Don Parsons Republican Yea
Eddie Lumsden Republican Yea
Emory Dunahoo Republican Yea
Gary Richardson Republican Yea
Gerald Greene Republican Yea
Ginny Ehrhart Republican Yea
Holt Persinger Republican Yea
Houston Gaines Republican Yea
Jaclyn Ford Republican Yea
James Burchett Republican Yea
Jan Jones Republican Yea
Jason Ridley Republican Nay
Jesse Petrea Republican Yea
Joe Campbell Republican Yea
John Carson Republican Yea
John Corbett Republican Yea
John LaHood Republican Yea
Johnny Chastain Republican Yea
Jon Burns Republican Not Voting
Jordan Ridley Republican Nay
Joseph Gullett Republican Yea
Josh Bonner Republican Yea
Justin Howard Republican Yea
Karen Mathiak Republican Yea
Kasey Carpenter Republican Nay
Katie Dempsey Republican Yea
Kimberly New Republican Yea
Lauren McDonald III Republican Yea
Lee Hawkins Republican Yea
Leesa Hagan Republican Yea
Lehman Franklin Republican Yea
Lynn Smith Republican Yea
Mandi Ballinger Republican Yea
Marcus Wiedower Republican Yea
Mark Newton Republican Yea
Martin Momtahan Republican Not Voting
Matt Barton Republican Yea
Matt Dubnik Republican Yea
Matt Hatchett Republican Yea
Matt Reeves Republican Yea
Matthew Gambill Republican Yea
Mike Cameron Republican Yea
Mike Cheokas Republican Yea
Mitchell Horner Republican Nay
Mitchell Scoggins Republican Yea
Noel Williams, Jr. Republican Yea
Noelle Kahaian Republican Yea
Reynaldo Martinez Republican Yea
Rick Jasperse Republican Yea
Rick Townsend Republican Yea
Rob Clifton Republican Yea
Rob Leverett Republican Yea
Robert Dickey Republican Yea
Ron Stephens Republican Yea
Sandy Donatucci Republican Yea
Scott Hilton Republican Yea
Sharon Cooper Republican Yea
Shaw Blackmon Republican Yea
Soo Hong Republican Yea
Stan Gunter Republican Yea
Steve Tarvin Republican Nay
Steven Meeks Republican Yea
Steven Sainz Republican Yea
Tim Fleming Republican Yea
Todd Jones Republican Yea
Trey Kelley Republican Yea
Trey Rhodes Republican Yea
Tyler Paul Smith Republican Yea
Vance Smith Republican Yea
Victor Anderson Republican Yea
Will Wade Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 397 do?
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to allow municipalities to opt in to providing advance voting on Saturdays for municipal elections; to revise provisions related to the timelines for calling special elections and the dates on which special elections can be held; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Who sponsors HB 397?
HB 397 is sponsored by David Clark (Republican), Mitchell Scoggins (Republican), Joseph Gullett (Republican), Rob Leverett (Republican), John LaHood (Republican), and Tim Fleming (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 397?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 11, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 397?
Track HB 397 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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