HB 1539: Ware County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill applies only to Ware County. It authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Ware County to charge a technology fee, set by the probate judge, of no more than $10 for each civil action filed and no more than $10 as a surcharge added to each fine the court assesses. The money collected must go into a separate account and can only pay for the court's technology needs, such as buying or leasing computer hardware and software, and buying, leasing, maintaining, or installing imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment. The authority to collect this fee ends on July 1, 2036. Any money left in the account at that point stays dedicated to general Ware County technology purposes, decided by the Ware County Board of Commissioners.

• Authorizes the Probate Court of Ware County's clerk to charge a technology fee of up to $10 on each civil filing.
• Authorizes an additional surcharge of up to $10 on each fine assessed by the Probate Court of Ware County.
• Restricts use of the collected fees to specific technology purchases, leases, maintenance, and installation for the court.
• Requires the fees to be kept in a separate, segregated account managed by the clerk.
• Ends the fee authority on July 1, 2036 and directs leftover funds to general county technology uses chosen by the Ware County Board of Commissioners.

People who file civil actions in the Probate Court of Ware County or who are fined by that court, the court's clerk and judge, and the Ware County Board of Commissioners, which decides how leftover technology funds are used after 2036.

People filing cases or paying fines in Ware County's Probate Court could pay a small additional fee, capped at $10 each, that funds the court's computers and equipment. The arrangement is temporary, ending in 2036, after which the county commission controls any remaining money.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee amounts, up to $10 per civil filing and up to $10 as a surcharge on fines, with the exact amount set by the probate judge.
• Section 1(a) limits fee use to computer hardware and software purchases, leases, maintenance, installation, and related office and imaging equipment.
• Section 1(b) requires the fees to be kept in a segregated account used only for the authorized technology purposes.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2036 and gives the Ware County Board of Commissioners discretion over any remaining funds for general county technology uses.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 675
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-23Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-20House Passed/Adopted (House)

• James Burchett (R, HD-176)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 20, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (14 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #734

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #799

• Ware County
• probate court fees
• local government funding
• court technology