HB 701: Terrell County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This local bill applies only to Terrell County. It authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Terrell County to charge and collect a technology fee, set by the probate judge, of up to $5 for each civil case filed and up to $5 as a surcharge on each criminal fine. The same fee structure applies when the probate judge is also acting as the judge of the Magistrate Court of Terrell County. The money can only be spent on specific technology needs of the probate court, such as computer hardware and software, audio-visual and imaging equipment, and digitizing court records. Funds must be kept in a separate account and are subject to audits approved by Terrell County's governing authority. The fee authority ends on July 1, 2035, and any money left in the account at that point stays dedicated to general Terrell County technology uses.

• Authorizes the Probate Court of Terrell County to charge up to $5 per civil filing and up to $5 as a surcharge on each criminal fine.
• Applies the same $5 filing fee and $5 fine surcharge when the probate judge is serving as judge of the Magistrate Court of Terrell County.
• Restricts use of the collected fees to specific technology purposes, including computer hardware and software, audio-visual and imaging equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Requires the fees to be kept in a segregated account subject to audit approved by Terrell County's governing authority.
• Sets the fee authority to expire on July 1, 2035, with any remaining funds dedicated to general Terrell County technology uses.
• Repeals any conflicting local laws.

People who file civil cases or pay criminal fines in the Probate Court or Magistrate Court of Terrell County, the probate court clerk and judge who set and collect the fee, and Terrell County's governing authority, which approves the audits.

Residents and businesses filing cases or paying fines in Terrell County's probate and magistrate courts could pay up to an extra $10 combined per case in new fees, which would fund court technology upgrades like digitized records and equipment, rather than going into the county's general revenue.

• Section 1(a)(1) allows a technology fee of up to $5.00 per civil filing and up to $5.00 as a surcharge on criminal fines in the probate court.
• Section 1(a)(2) applies the same $5.00 filing fee and $5.00 fine surcharge when the probate judge acts as magistrate court judge.
• Section 1(a)(3) limits fee spending to computer equipment, audio-visual and imaging equipment, and digitizing court records and archives.
• Section 1(b) requires the fees to be held in a segregated account subject to audit approved by Terrell County's governing authority.
• Section 1(c) sets a termination date of July 1, 2035, with leftover funds dedicated to general Terrell County technology uses.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-30Effective Date
2. 2025-04-30Act 34
3. 2025-04-30House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-13House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 13, 2025

   169 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 6 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #273

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 0 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #277

• local government fees
• court fees
• Terrell County
• probate court
• magistrate court