HB916: HB916 Judicial Council; funding for civil legal services to low-income individuals; create grant program

Georgia currently has no dedicated state grant program specifically funding civil legal aid for low-income residents through the Judicial Council, the state body that oversees court administration policy. This bill would add a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 15-5-27) creating such a program. Under the bill, the Judicial Council would give grants to counties and municipalities to help pay for civil legal services for low-income individuals, but only if the General Assembly or another funding source actually provides money for it. The council would set its own eligibility rules, after consulting with advocacy groups and experts in indigent legal services, and would decide grant amounts case by case rather than using a fixed formula.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 15-5-27) authorizing the Judicial Council to give grants to counties and municipalities for civil legal services to low-income individuals.
• Makes the grant program dependent on the General Assembly or another source actually appropriating or providing funding, rather than guaranteeing money automatically.
• Requires the Judicial Council to consult advocacy groups and indigent legal services experts when setting eligibility criteria and standards for grants.
• Lets the Judicial Council decide the dollar amount of each grant individually, on a case-by-case basis, instead of a set statewide amount.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new grant program.

Low-income Georgians who need help with civil legal matters (such as housing, family law, or consumer issues), county and municipal governments that could apply for the grants, the Judicial Council, and legal aid or advocacy organizations that may be consulted on eligibility standards.

If funded, the program could give local governments a new source of state money to support civil legal aid for residents who cannot afford a lawyer for non-criminal matters. Because the program depends on future appropriations, its real-world effect hinges on whether the legislature later decides to fund it.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 15-5-27, creating a Judicial Council grant program for civil legal services to low-income individuals.
• The program operates 'subject to appropriations by the General Assembly or other available funding,' meaning it does not create funding on its own.
• The Judicial Council may set eligibility criteria and standards, in consultation with advocacy groups and indigent legal services experts.
• The Judicial Council decides the grant amount for each recipient on a case-by-case basis rather than a fixed formula.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-01-12House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-04-04House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-04-02House Hopper (House)

• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)Primary sponsor
• Marvin Lim (D, HD-098)

• civil legal aid
• low-income residents
• Judicial Council
• local government grants
• access to justice