HB 1172: Spalding County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill applies only to Spalding County's Magistrate Court, a local court that handles smaller civil disputes and some criminal matters. Currently the court has no specific authority to charge a technology fee. The bill lets the clerk of the court charge and collect a fee, set by the magistrate judge, of up to $15.00 for filing each civil action and up to $15.00 as a surcharge on each fine the court imposes. The money collected must be kept in a separate account and can only be spent on the court's technology needs, such as buying or leasing computer hardware and software, maintaining equipment, purchasing audio-visual and recording equipment, and paying for technical support services. The chief judge of the court directs how the segregated funds are used. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not state a specific future effective date beyond standard enactment.

• Authorizes the clerk of the Magistrate Court of Spalding County to charge a technology fee of up to $15.00 on each civil case filing.
• Authorizes an additional surcharge of up to $15.00 on each fine assessed by the court, also capped at $15.00.
• Restricts use of the fee money to specific technology purposes: computer hardware and software, audio-visual and communications equipment, and technical support services.
• Requires the fees to be kept in a separate, segregated account managed by the clerk and directed by the chief judge.

People who file civil lawsuits in the Spalding County Magistrate Court and people who are fined by that court would pay the new fee. The court's clerk and chief judge would manage the collected funds, and the court itself would gain a dedicated technology budget.

Litigants and defendants in Spalding County's Magistrate Court would face a modest added cost of up to $15 per filing or fine, while the court would gain a dedicated funding source to modernize equipment like computers, recording tools, and communications systems without relying on the county's general budget.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee cap at $15.00 for civil filings and a separate $15.00 cap as a surcharge on fines, with the amount set by the magistrate judge.
• Section 1(a) lists the only allowed uses: computer hardware and software purchases, leasing and maintenance of hardware, audio-visual and communications equipment, and technical support procurement.
• Section 1(b) requires the fees to be held in a segregated account and spent only as the chief judge directs.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 546
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-24Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-12House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)Primary sponsor
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 12, 2026

   156 yea, 0 nay (11 not voting, 8 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #506

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 24, 2026

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

• Spalding County
• magistrate court fees
• local court funding
• court technology