Georgia Senate bill by author Sen. Lucas to redraw Hancock County school board districts passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Sen. David Lucas aims to redraw Hancock County school board districts using 2020 Census data and maintain the board chair’s at-large election, according to the Georgia State Senate.

It passed both chambers as of Thursday, April 2, clearing the House by a vote of 94-75 and the Senate by a vote of 50-0.

The bill, introduced as SB619 on Thursday, March 12 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Board of Education of Hancock County; the description of the education districts; change’.

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

In essence, this bill redraws the four education districts for the Hancock County Board of Education using 2020 U.S. Census voting tabulation districts, census blocks and city boundary maps, as detailed in an attached plan labeled HancockCCSB-2025. It keeps the board chair elected at large by all voters in the school district and specifies that any territory not clearly assigned, or assigned but not contiguous, will be placed in the nearest adjoining district with the smallest population. Current board members continue in office for the rest of their terms and are deemed to represent the newly defined districts on the act’s effective date.

In the Senate, 19 Democrats and 31 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the House, two Democrats and 92 Republicans voted in favor, while 71 Democrats and four Republicans voted against it.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Mack Jackson (Democrat-128th).

Lucas graduated from Tuskegee Institute with a BS and again from Mercer University with a JD.

Lucas, a Democrat, was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2013 to represent the state’s 26th Senate District, replacing previous state senator Miriam Paris.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday, May 12.

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 Senate. The source data can be found here.