HB39: HB39 Habersham County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of technology fee

This bill authorizes the clerk of the Magistrate Court of Habersham County to charge and collect a technology fee, set by the chief magistrate, of up to $10.00 for filing a civil case and up to $10.00 as a surcharge on fines the court imposes. The money must be kept in a separate account and can only be spent on specific technology needs, such as computer hardware and software, audio-visual and recording equipment, data storage, remote access and cybersecurity tools, and cloud storage licenses. The fee authority ends on July 1, 2044, and any money left in the fund at that point stays dedicated to general Habersham County technology uses. The bill also repeals an earlier 2024 law that set up a similar fee, effectively replacing it, and takes effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without his signature.

• Authorizes the Magistrate Court of Habersham County to charge up to $10.00 for filing a civil case and up to $10.00 as a surcharge on court fines.
• Restricts use of the collected fees to a defined list of technology purchases, including computers, software, recording and imaging equipment, data storage, and cybersecurity insurance.
• Requires the clerk to keep the fee revenue in a segregated account separate from other court funds.
• Sets an end date of July 1, 2044 for the fee, after which leftover funds must stay dedicated to general county technology uses.
• Repeals a 2024 Georgia law (Ga. L. 2024, p. 3614) that previously set up a similar Habersham County technology fee.

People who file civil cases in the Magistrate Court of Habersham County and people who are fined by that court, since both would pay the new technology fee. It also affects the court clerk's office, which must collect and separately account for the funds.

Litigants and defendants in Habersham County's Magistrate Court would pay a small added cost, up to $20 combined, when filing a case or paying a fine. In exchange, the court gains a dedicated funding source for computers, security, and other equipment through 2044.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee cap at $10.00 for civil filings and $10.00 as a surcharge on fines, with the exact amount set by the chief magistrate.
• Section 1(a) lists seven permitted technology uses, including hardware, software, audio-visual equipment, data storage, remote access support, cloud document platforms, and cybersecurity insurance.
• Section 1(b) requires the fee revenue to be kept in a segregated account used only for the authorized purposes.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2044 and dedicates any remaining funds to general county technology uses.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without approval.
• Section 3 repeals the prior 2024 Habersham County technology fee law in its entirety.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-30Effective Date 2025-04-30
2. 2025-04-30Act 31
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)

• Victor Anderson (R, HD-010)Primary sponsor
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)

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
• Habersham County
• local legislation
• court technology