Georgia CommonsSB329: SB329 Flint Judicial Circuit; chief judge; annual stipend in addition to county compensation to superior court judges; provide
Last action May 13, 2025 · Effective Date 2025-05-13
A Senate bill would give the chief judge of the Flint Judicial Circuit superior court an extra $10,000 annual stipend from Henry County funds, on top of existing judicial pay.
In plain language
Georgia law already lets Henry County, which makes up the Flint Judicial Circuit, supplement the state-paid salaries of its superior court judges, district attorney, and chief assistant district attorney. This bill amends that 1984 law (as later amended in 1999) to add a new benefit specifically for the circuit's chief judge. Under the bill, Henry County's governing authority would have to pay the chief judge of the superior court an additional $10,000 per year from county funds, split into 12 equal monthly payments. This stipend comes on top of any other county supplements already given to superior court judges in the circuit. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.
What the bill does
- Adds a new Section 1.1 to the 1984 Flint Judicial Circuit salary supplement law requiring an annual stipend for the chief judge.
- Requires Henry County's governing authority to pay the chief judge of the superior court $10,000 per year from county funds.
- Specifies the stipend be paid in 12 equal monthly installments rather than a lump sum.
- Clarifies this stipend is in addition to, not a replacement for, any other county supplements paid to superior court judges.
- Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new provision.
Who it affects
The chief judge of the superior court in the Flint Judicial Circuit (Henry County) would receive the new stipend, and Henry County's governing authority would be responsible for budgeting and paying it from county funds.
Why it matters
The chief judge in this specific Georgia circuit would receive a guaranteed $10,000 yearly pay increase funded by Henry County, distinct from the state salary and any other local supplements, changing how county funds are allocated to judicial compensation.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends the 1984 Flint Judicial Circuit salary supplement Act (Ga. L. 1984, p. 705), as amended in 1999, by inserting new Section 1.1.
- New Section 1.1 requires Henry County to pay the chief judge of the superior court a $10,000 annual stipend from county funds, in 12 equal monthly payments.
- New Section 1.1 states the stipend is in addition to any other county supplements already provided to superior court judges.
- Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with this Act.
Status timeline
- Effective Date 2025-05-13
- Act 248
- Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
Show full history (13 actions)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
- Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
- Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
- Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
- Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 21, 2025
53 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 1 absent)
- House voteApril 2, 2025
168 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 5 absent)
Topics
- judicial pay
- Henry County
- Flint Judicial Circuit
- local legislation
- court funding