HB 39: Habersham County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of technology fee

Habersham County's Magistrate Court currently operates under a 2024 law authorizing a technology fee. This bill repeals that earlier law and replaces it with an updated version. The clerk of the Magistrate Court would be allowed to charge up to $10.00 for filing each civil case and up to $10.00 as a surcharge on each fine, with the exact amount set by the chief magistrate. The money collected must be kept in a separate account and can only be spent on specific technology needs: computer hardware and software, audio-visual and imaging equipment, data storage, remote technology support, cloud storage platforms, and cybersecurity insurance. The authority to collect this fee ends on July 1, 2044, and any leftover money at that point must still be used for Habersham County technology purposes. The law takes effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it becomes law without his signature.

• Authorizes the Habersham County Magistrate Court clerk to charge up to $10.00 per civil filing and up to $10.00 per fine as a technology fee.
• Restricts use of the collected fees to a specific list of technology purchases, including computer equipment, data storage, cloud platforms, and cybersecurity insurance.
• Requires the fee money to be kept in a segregated account separate from other court funds.
• Sets the fee authority to expire on July 1, 2044, with any remaining funds still dedicated to Habersham County technology uses.
• Repeals the prior 2024 law (Ga. L. 2024, p. 3614) that had created a similar technology fee for the same court.

People who file civil cases in the Habersham County Magistrate Court and people who are fined by that court, since both groups would pay the technology fee. The court clerk and Habersham County government are also affected through managing and using the fee funds.

Anyone filing a civil case or paying a fine in Habersham County's Magistrate Court would pay up to $20 in combined fees, funding equipment like computers, cloud storage, and cybersecurity insurance for the court rather than relying on general county funds.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee caps at $10.00 for civil filings and $10.00 as a fine surcharge, with the chief magistrate setting the exact amount.
• Section 1(a) lists seven permitted uses for the fee, including hardware, software, data storage, remote access technology, cloud platforms, and cybersecurity insurance.
• Section 1(b) requires the fees to be kept in a segregated account used only for the authorized purposes.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2044, and dedicates any leftover funds to general Habersham County technology uses.
• Section 2 makes the Act effective upon the Governor's approval or upon becoming law without signature.
• Section 3 repeals the prior 2024 Habersham County technology fee law in its entirety.

1. 2025-04-30Effective Date
2. 2025-04-30Act 31
3. 2025-04-30House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-02-12Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-02-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-02-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-02-05House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Victor Anderson (R, HD-10)Primary sponsor
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-32)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 5, 2025

   160 yea, 1 nay (14 not voting, 5 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #15

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 12, 2025

   52 yea, 1 nay (1 not voting, 2 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #45

• Habersham County
• magistrate court fees
• court technology funding
• local legislation