SB316: SB316 Probate Court of Clinch County; assessment and collection of a technology fee; authorize

Currently the Probate Court of Clinch County has no specific authority to charge a fee dedicated to funding its technology needs. This bill would let the county's governing authority adopt a resolution authorizing the court's clerk to charge and collect a technology fee, capped at $5.00, on every civil action filed, every estate filed, as a surcharge on fines, on each conviction, and on filings of affidavits (except affidavits of indigency). The fee could be assessed no more than once per party in a single case. The money collected would have to go only toward the court's technology needs, such as computer hardware and software, equipment maintenance, imaging and communications equipment, and digitizing court records. The clerk would remit the funds monthly to the county, which must keep them in a separate account (or a joint account if the Probate and Magistrate Courts are consolidated) and audit it yearly. The bill repeals any conflicting laws.

• Authorizes Clinch County's governing authority to adopt a resolution letting the Probate Court clerk charge a technology fee of up to $5.00.
• Applies the fee to every civil action, every estate filing, fine surcharges, convictions, and most affidavit filings, excluding affidavits of indigency.
• Limits the fee to being assessed no more than once per party within a single action or proceeding.
• Restricts use of the collected funds exclusively to the court's technology needs, listing computer equipment, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing records as allowed uses.
• Requires the clerk to remit fees monthly to the county, which must hold them in a separate account and audit it annually.
• Repeals any state laws that conflict with this new fee authority.

People who file civil actions or estate cases in the Clinch County Probate Court, people convicted or fined there, people filing affidavits (other than indigency affidavits), the Probate Court clerk, and the Clinch County governing authority, which administers and audits the fee revenue.

Georgians using the Clinch County Probate Court for estate matters, civil filings, or facing fines or convictions could pay a small added fee, up to $5 per party per case, that funds court technology upgrades like digitizing records and updating computer equipment rather than general county revenue.

• Section 1(a) authorizes the county governing authority to adopt a resolution letting the clerk charge a technology fee up to $5.00 on listed filings and fines.
• Section 1(a) exempts affidavits of indigency from the fee and caps collection at once per party per case.
• Section 1(a)(1)-(4) lists allowed uses: computer hardware/software purchases, equipment leasing and maintenance, imaging and communications equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Section 1(b) requires monthly remittance to the county, a segregated account (or joint account if courts are consolidated), and an annual audit.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 606
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-02-06House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-02-06House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-02-06House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-13House Second Readers (House)

• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)Primary sponsor
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 10, 2025

   43 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #221

2. PassedHouse voteFebruary 6, 2026

   163 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #480

• court fees
• Clinch County
• probate court
• local government funding