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HB524 • 2025

Public officers and employees; elected officers or officials shall not have their employment terminated solely as a result of being elected to or holding an elected office; provide

Public officers and employees; elected officers or officials shall not have their employment terminated solely as a result of being elected to or holding an elected office; provide

Labor
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Bell, Eric
Last action
2025-02-21
Official status
House Second Readers
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source confirms the bill passed both chambers but does not specify if it has been signed into law or its effective date.

HB524: Protecting Public Employees Who Run for Office

This bill stops employers from firing public workers just because they are elected to or hold a government office, but allows termination if the new job makes it impossible to do their regular work.

What This Bill Does

  • Stops employers from ending employment solely because an employee is elected to or holds an elected office.
  • Allows for termination of employment if holding the elected office impairs more than half of the worker's duties.
  • Provides for mandatory leave without pay for certain public employees who hold specific elected offices.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public officers and employees in Georgia
  • Employers of public workers

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not list which specific elected offices require mandatory leave without pay.
  • The text does not define exactly how to measure if an office impairs more than half of a worker's duties.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-21 Georgia General Assembly

    House Second Readers

Official Summary Text

Public officers and employees; elected officers or officials shall not have their employment terminated solely as a result of being elected to or holding an elected office; provide