HB857: HB857 Cobb County; State Court; chief deputy clerk and clerk; change salary

The State Court of Cobb County was created by a 1964 Georgia law that has been amended several times, most recently in 2023 to set salaries for its clerk and chief deputy clerk. House Bill 857 amends that law again, this time to raise those two salaries. The bill sets the chief deputy clerk's salary at $135,000.00 a year, paid in equal monthly installments from Cobb County funds. It sets the clerk's salary at $150,000.00 a year, also paid in equal monthly installments from county funds. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not include a separate effective date section, so it would take effect under the General Assembly's standard rules once signed.

• Sets the annual salary of the chief deputy clerk of the State Court of Cobb County at $135,000.00, paid monthly from Cobb County funds.
• Sets the annual salary of the clerk of the State Court of Cobb County at $150,000.00, paid monthly from Cobb County funds.
• Amends the 1964 Act creating the State Court of Cobb County, as previously updated in 2023, to reflect these new salary figures.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new salary provisions.

This bill directly affects the clerk and chief deputy clerk of the State Court of Cobb County, and it affects Cobb County government, which pays their salaries from county funds.

The change means Cobb County will pay more each year to fund these two court staff positions, adjusting compensation set just a few years earlier in 2023 to reflect updated salary levels for these specific court offices.

• Section 1 revises paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Section 17 to set the chief deputy clerk's salary at $135,000.00 annually, paid monthly from Cobb County funds.
• Section 2 revises Section 23 to set the clerk's salary at $150,000.00 annually, paid monthly from Cobb County funds.
• Section 3 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 522
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-26Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-02-26Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
8. 2025-04-04Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Terry Cummings (D, HD-039)Primary sponsor
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• John Carson (R, HD-046)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2025

   165 yea, 0 nay (10 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Calendar Without Hbs 851 & 852: House Vote #342

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 26, 2026

   48 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #589

• Cobb County government
• court clerk salaries
• local legislation
• state court staffing