HB 1542: Worth County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill applies only to Worth County. It authorizes the clerk of the Magistrate Court to charge and collect a technology fee, set by the chief magistrate, of up to $10 for filing each civil action and up to $10 as a surcharge on each fine the court assesses. The money can only be spent on specific technology needs: buying or leasing computer hardware and software, maintaining and installing computer equipment, buying or leasing imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment, and converting court records to digital form for public access. Funds must be kept in a separate account used only for these purposes. The court's authority to charge this fee ends on July 1, 2036, and any money left in the account at that point stays dedicated to general Worth County technology uses.

• Authorizes the clerk of the Magistrate Court of Worth County to charge up to a $10 technology fee on each civil case filed with the court.
• Authorizes a separate surcharge of up to $10 on each fine assessed by the court, also for technology purposes.
• Restricts how the fee money can be spent to computer equipment, software, related maintenance, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Requires the collected fees to be kept in a segregated account used only for the authorized technology purposes.
• Sets an end date of July 1, 2036 for the fee authority, with leftover funds staying dedicated to Worth County technology uses.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this Act.

People who file civil lawsuits in the Worth County Magistrate Court and people who are fined by that court, since both groups could pay the new fee or surcharge. The Magistrate Court clerk and chief magistrate, who set and manage the fee, are also directly affected.

Residents and businesses using Worth County's Magistrate Court for civil filings or paying court fines would see a small added cost, up to $20 combined in some cases, but the money is restricted to funding court technology like digitizing records and upgrading equipment.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee amounts, up to $10.00 per civil filing and up to $10.00 as a fine surcharge, with the exact amount set by the chief magistrate.
• Section 1(a) limits fee spending to four categories: computer purchases, hardware maintenance, imaging/printing equipment, and digitizing court records for public access.
• Section 1(b) requires the clerk to keep collected fees in a segregated account used only for the authorized purposes.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2036 and directs any leftover funds to general Worth County technology uses.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 584
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-27Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-25Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-23House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Bill Yearta (R, HD-152)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 23, 2026

   158 yea, 0 nay (12 not voting, 6 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #739

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   47 yea, 0 nay (6 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #825

• local legislation
• Worth County
• court fees
• magistrate court
• court technology