Rep. Terry Cummings Issues Statement Opposing House Bill 369

Atlanta, GA — State Representative Terry Cummings, who represents Mableton, issued the following statement in strong opposition to House Bill 369:

“I stand in firm and unequivocal opposition to House Bill 369 — legislation that strikes at the very core of fair representation in Georgia. Let’s be clear: HB 369l is not about good governance, efficiency, or fairness. It is about diluting the voting strength of Black communities — particularly in metro Atlanta counties where voters have organized, built political power, and elected leaders who reflect their voices.

The origins of this bill raise serious concerns. HB 369 began as a bipartisan food truck safety measure — one I proudly co-sponsored. After passing the House in 2025, it was fundamentally transformed in the Senate into legislation targeting five metro Atlanta counties — Cobb, Gwinnett, Fulton, Clayton, and DeKalb — counties with significant Black leadership. The revised bill imposes nonpartisan elections on key local offices, including County Commissioners, Tax Commissioners, District Attorneys, Solicitors General, Clerks of Court, and Boards of Education.

When the bill returned to the House, I urged leadership to adopt my amendment applying the policy statewide. That amendment was rejected, and requests to remove my name and others from the bill were denied. If this policy is truly sound, it should apply equally across every county in Georgia. The decision to limit it to just a handful of counties speaks for itself. And it raises a fair question: why was this change not pursued when those same positions were held by white leadership? This legislation clearly and disproportionately impacts Black leadership — especially Black women, who have been instrumental in expanding voter participation, building coalitions, and strengthening our democracy. Rather than respecting that leadership, HB 369 seeks to diminish it.

This bill raises serious legal and moral concerns. It risks undermining the very principles of representation and accountability that define our democratic system. We should be expanding access to the ballot, not restricting it. We should be empowering voters,
not silencing them.

I stand with the people of Georgia. I stand with the communities affected. And I stand firmly against House Bill 369. We’re calling on Governor Kemp to do the right thing. VETO HB 369!”