Georgia House bill by Rep. Westbrook on Garden City mayor pro tempore succession passes House and Senate

Passed bill introduced by State Rep. Anne Allen Westbrook aims to clarify how vacancies and appointments for Garden City’s mayor pro tempore are handled, following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Tuesday, Feb. 24, clearing the House by a vote of 158-0 and the Senate by a vote of 53-0.

The bill, introduced as HB966 on Wednesday, Jan. 14 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Garden City, City of; mayor to fill any vacancy in the office of mayor pro tempore; provide’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the charter of Garden City to specify how vacancies in the office of mayor pro tempore are filled. It provides that after each regular election, if the mayor has just been elected, he or she shall appoint one of the other council members to serve as mayor pro tempore for a 4-year term and until a successor is elected and qualified. The bill further states that the mayor shall fill any vacancy in the mayor pro tempore’s office, and it maintains existing rules for the mayor pro tempore acting as mayor, succession to the mayor’s office, and the separate election and role of the president of the council.

In the House, 70 Democrats and 88 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 23 Democrats and 30 Republicans voted in favor, also with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Carl Gilliard (Democrat-162nd) and Rep. Bill Hitchens (Republican-161st), along with two other co-sponsors.

Westbrook graduated from Hollins College in 1996 with a BA and again in 2001 from University of Georgia School of Law with a JD.

Westbrook, a Democrat, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 163rd House District, replacing previous state representative Derek Mallow.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday, April 2.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.