HB33: HB33 Cook County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This local bill applies only to Cook County. It authorizes the clerk of the Magistrate Court there to charge and collect a technology fee, set by the chief magistrate, of up to $5.00 for every civil action filed with the court. The money can only be spent on the court's technology needs: buying computer hardware and software, leasing or maintaining computer hardware, and purchasing, leasing, maintaining, or installing imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment and software. The funds must be kept in a separate account managed by the court clerk and are subject to audit by the county's governing authority. The authority to collect this fee ends on July 1, 2030. Any money left in the account at that point stays dedicated to general Cook County technology uses, though the chief magistrate may declare a surplus once a year and transfer it to the county's governing authority.

• Authorizes the clerk of the Magistrate Court of Cook County to charge a technology fee of up to $5.00 on each civil case filed.
• Limits use of the fee revenue to specific technology purchases: computer hardware and software, and imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment.
• Requires the fee money to be kept in a separate account subject to audit by Cook County's governing authority.
• Sets July 1, 2030 as the end date for the court's authority to collect the fee.
• Directs that leftover funds after termination stay dedicated to Cook County technology uses, unless the chief magistrate declares a surplus and transfers it to the county once a year.

People who file civil lawsuits in the Magistrate Court of Cook County, Georgia, who would pay the new fee; the court clerk, who collects and accounts for the money; and the chief magistrate and Cook County's governing authority, who oversee how the funds are used and audited.

Anyone filing a civil case in Cook County's Magistrate Court would pay a small additional fee, funding court technology like computers and scanning equipment rather than relying solely on the county budget. The arrangement is temporary, ending in 2030 unless further legislative action extends it.

• Section 1(a) sets the technology fee at not more than $5.00 per civil filing, with the exact amount set by the chief magistrate, and lists the only allowed uses of the money.
• Section 1(b) requires the fee revenue to be held in a segregated account managed by the clerk and subject to audit by Cook County's governing authority.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee-collection authority on July 1, 2030 and dedicates any leftover funds to general Cook County technology uses, with an option for the chief magistrate to declare an annual surplus and transfer it to the county.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-30Effective Date 2025-04-30
2. 2025-04-30Act 30
3. 2025-04-30House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-02-12Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-02-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-02-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-02-05House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)Primary sponsor
• Jaclyn Ford (R, HD-170)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 5, 2025

   160 yea, 1 nay (14 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #15

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 12, 2025

   52 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #45

• court fees
• Cook County
• Magistrate Court
• local government funding
• court technology