HB 1541: Ware County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill authorizes the clerk of the Magistrate Court of Ware County to charge and collect a technology fee, set by the chief magistrate, of no more than $10 for filing each civil action and no more than $10 as a surcharge on each fine the court assesses. The money can only be used for the court's technology needs, such as buying or leasing computer hardware and software, maintaining and installing that equipment, and purchasing or maintaining imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment. The funds must be kept in a separate account managed by the clerk and used only for these approved purposes. The bill sets an end date: the authority to collect the fee terminates on July 1, 2036. Any money left in the account at that point would stay dedicated to general Ware County technology uses, decided by the Ware County Board of Commissioners.

• Authorizes the Magistrate Court of Ware County's clerk to charge up to $10 per civil filing as a technology fee.
• Authorizes a separate surcharge of up to $10 on each fine assessed by the court, also for technology purposes.
• Restricts use of the fee revenue to specific technology purchases: computer hardware and software, related maintenance and installation, and imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment.
• Requires the collected funds to be kept in a segregated account managed by the court clerk.
• Sets July 1, 2036 as the date the fee authority ends, with leftover funds going to general Ware County technology uses at the Board of Commissioners' discretion.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this Act.

People who file civil actions in the Magistrate Court of Ware County and people who are fined by that court, since both groups may pay the new fee or surcharge. The court clerk, the chief magistrate, and the Ware County Board of Commissioners also gain new roles in setting, collecting, and eventually reallocating the funds.

Anyone filing a civil case or paying a court fine in Ware County's Magistrate Court could pay up to $20 more, split between a filing fee and a fine surcharge. The money is earmarked for court technology upgrades rather than general county spending, at least until the fee expires in 2036.

• Section 1(a) sets the maximum fee amounts at $10 for civil filings and $10 as a surcharge on fines, with the exact amount set by the chief magistrate.
• Section 1(a) limits fee use to three categories: computer hardware and software, their lease/maintenance/installation, and imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment.
• Section 1(b) requires the funds to be held in a segregated account controlled by the clerk of the magistrate court.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2036, and directs any remaining funds to general Ware County technology uses as decided by the county commissioners.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 677
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
• local court fees
• magistrate court
• county government funding