Panel advances bill to make most county offices nonpartisan in five metro counties

Chairman Albers introduced House Bill 369 (LC 474282S) as a technical cleanup to designate most county-level positions — excluding the sheriff — as nonpartisan offices in the five consolidated law-enforcement metro counties. Albers said the change is intended to improve safety and cooperation and that the bill aligns with negotiations he said he had with the Georgia Sheriffs Association.

The measure names Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb and Clayton as the five affected counties. Minority Leader Jones asked why the sheriff’s office was excluded; Albers replied that the exclusion was part of a negotiated compromise and that he planned to pursue that change in a future bill. Several senators raised whether the change should apply statewide; Albers answered that the bill targets the most law‑enforcement‑intensive counties and he would consider expansion next year.

Senators also asked about an earlier version that had district attorneys on the wrong election date; Albers said the current draft corrects those technical errors and is 'perfected and ready to go.' After brief discussion the committee moved the measure for a do‑pass recommendation. A motion to table failed; the committee then voted to advance HB 369 on a do‑pass recommendation.

The committee recorded the vote and sent the measure forward for further consideration. No members of the public signed up to speak on the bill during this hearing.

What happens next: The bill, as amended for technical corrections, will proceed through the Senate process for further floor consideration.