HB 623: Carroll County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill applies only to Carroll County. It authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Carroll County to charge a technology fee of up to $10.00 on each civil action filed with the court, with the exact amount set by the probate judge. The money collected must go into a separate account and can only be spent on specific technology needs: computer hardware and software, audio-visual and imaging equipment, remote and cloud-based storage and cybersecurity services, and technology training for court staff. The bill sets an end date for the fee of July 1, 2035, after which any money left in the account must still be used for general Carroll County technology purposes. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Carroll County to charge and collect a technology fee of up to $10.00 per civil filing.
• Requires the fee amount to be set by the probate court judge, within the $10.00 cap.
• Restricts use of the collected funds to a specific list of technology purchases, maintenance, remote storage, cybersecurity, and staff training.
• Requires the fee money to be kept in a segregated account separate from other court funds.
• Ends the court's authority to charge the fee on July 1, 2035, while directing any leftover money toward general Carroll County technology uses.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new authorization.

People who file civil actions in the Probate Court of Carroll County, the clerk and judge of that court who set and collect the fee, and Carroll County's technology budget, which would benefit from the dedicated fee revenue and any residual funds after 2035.

Anyone filing a civil case in Carroll County's probate court would pay up to $10 more, funding the court's computers, records systems, and cybersecurity. The fee is not permanent and money left over after 2035 stays earmarked for county technology rather than general spending.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee cap at $10.00 per civil filing, with the exact amount determined by the probate court judge.
• Section 1(a) lists six permitted categories of spending, including computer hardware and software, audio-visual and recording equipment, remote technology support, digital records archiving and cybersecurity services, and technology training.
• Section 1(b) requires the fee revenue to be kept in a segregated account used only for the authorized technology purposes.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2035, and dedicates any remaining funds to general Carroll County technology uses.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date
2. 2025-05-13Act 207
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-21Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-21Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-11Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-10House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Tyler Paul Smith (R, HD-18)Primary sponsor
• David Huddleston (R, HD-72)
• Jutt Howard (R, HD-71)
• Lynn Smith (R, HD-70)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 10, 2025

   165 yea, 0 nay (8 not voting, 7 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #270

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 21, 2025

   53 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 1 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #265

• court fees
• Carroll County government
• probate court
• local legislation
• court technology funding