HB 1297: Pierce County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill authorizes the clerk of the Magistrate Court of Pierce County to charge and collect a new technology fee. The chief magistrate would set the fee amount, but it could not exceed $10 for filing a civil action and could not exceed $10 as a surcharge on each fine the court assesses. The money collected could only be used for specific technology purposes: buying or leasing computer hardware and software, buying or leasing audio-visual and imaging equipment, and preserving court records digitally. The funds must be kept in a separate account by the clerk. The bill sets an end date: the authority to charge this fee terminates on July 1, 2036, and any money left in the account at that point would stay dedicated to general Pierce County technology uses.

• Authorizes the Magistrate Court of Pierce County's clerk to charge a technology fee of up to $10 on each civil case filing.
• Authorizes an additional surcharge of up to $10 on every fine assessed by the court, also capped at $10.
• Restricts use of the collected fees to specific technology purchases, leases, maintenance, and digital records preservation for the court.
• Requires the fees to be kept in a separate, segregated account maintained by the court clerk.
• Sets July 1, 2036 as the date the fee authority ends, with leftover funds redirected to general Pierce County technology uses.

People who file civil lawsuits in the Magistrate Court of Pierce County and people who are fined by that court would pay the new fee. The court clerk and chief magistrate would administer it, and Pierce County's technology budget would benefit from any leftover funds after 2036.

Residents and businesses using Pierce County's magistrate court for civil disputes or facing fines would pay a small additional cost, up to $20 combined in some cases, that would fund court technology upgrades like digital record keeping and equipment instead of coming from the general county budget.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee structure: up to $10 per civil filing and up to $10 surcharge per fine, with the exact amount set by the chief magistrate.
• Section 1(a) limits fee use to four categories: computer hardware/software, related maintenance and installation, audio-visual and printing equipment, and digital archiving of court records.
• Section 1(b) requires the clerk to keep collected funds in a segregated account used only for the authorized purposes.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2036 and dedicates any remaining balance to general Pierce County technology uses.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 554
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-03Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-24Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-20House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Steven Meeks (R, HD-178)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 20, 2026

   162 yea, 0 nay (9 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #537

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 3, 2026

   45 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 4 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #600

• Pierce County
• court fees
• magistrate court
• local government funding