BILL REDUCING NUMBER OF MAGISTRATES IN HANCOCK COUNTY PASSES HOUSE

The number of magistrates will be reduced by one in Hancock County under a bill that passed the House of Delegates March 2. HB 2910 passed on the last day bills could emerge from their originating chamber in a 66-29, 5 absent vote. Both 1st Districts Delegates, Pat McGeehan and Mark Zatezalo voted in favor of the bill.

The bill allocates one magistrate per 15,500 population. With a population that falls under 31,000 in the 2020 census, Hancock County is saved from being reduced to one magistrate by a provision which states “no county shall have less than two magistrates.” The bill would go into effect with the 2024 election.

The bill now goes to the Senate.