HB 785: Crawford County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Crawford County to charge a technology fee, set by the probate judge, of no more than $5 for each civil action filed with the court and no more than $5 as a surcharge added to each fine the court assesses. The money collected must be kept in a separate account and can only be spent on specific technology needs of the probate court, such as computer hardware and software, imaging and printing equipment, and converting paper court records into digital files. The bill sets a termination date of July 1, 2035 for the county's authority to collect the fee. Any money left in the account at that point would stay dedicated to general Crawford County technology uses rather than being refunded or spent on unrelated purposes. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Crawford County to charge a technology fee of up to $5.00 on each civil filing and up to $5.00 as a surcharge on each fine.
• Restricts use of the fee money to specific technology purchases: computer hardware and software, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Requires the fee revenue to be kept in a separate, segregated account managed by the probate court clerk.
• Sets July 1, 2035 as the date the fee authority ends, with leftover funds staying dedicated to Crawford County technology purposes.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with this new fee authority.

Residents and businesses of Crawford County who file civil actions in probate court or are assessed fines by the court, the Probate Court of Crawford County and its clerk, who would collect and manage the fee, and the county government, which would receive any leftover technology funds after 2035.

People filing civil cases in Crawford County's probate court or paying court fines would pay a small additional charge, up to $10 combined in some cases, that funds computer and digital record upgrades for the court rather than going into the county's general budget.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee amounts: up to $5.00 per civil filing and up to $5.00 as a surcharge on each fine, with the exact amount set by the probate judge.
• Section 1(a) lists the only allowed uses: computer hardware/software purchases, leasing and maintaining equipment, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Section 1(b) requires the fee revenue to be kept in a segregated account used only for these authorized purposes.
• Section 1(c) ends the fee authority on July 1, 2035 and dedicates any remaining balance to general county technology uses.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-04-30Effective Date
2. 2025-04-30Act 37
3. 2025-04-30House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-31Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2025-03-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2025-03-27House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Robert Dickey (R, HD-134)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 27, 2025

   164 yea, 0 nay (12 not voting, 4 excused)

   Local Calendar: House Vote #317

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2025

   49 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 2 excused)

   LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR: Senate Vote #339

• Crawford County
• probate court fees
• court technology funding
• local government fees