HB 935: Thomas County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Thomas County to charge a technology fee, set by the probate judge but capped at $10, for every civil action filed with the court. The fee money can only go toward specific technology needs: buying computer hardware and software, leasing or maintaining computer equipment, and purchasing or maintaining imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment. The funds must be kept in a separate account managed by the clerk and are subject to audit by an auditor approved by the Thomas County governing authority. The law authorizing the fee ends on July 1, 2031. Any money left in the account after that stays dedicated to general Thomas County technology uses, though the probate judge may declare a surplus once a year and hand it over to the county governing authority.

• Authorizes the Probate Court of Thomas County to charge a technology fee of up to $10.00 on each civil action filed with the court.
• Restricts use of the fee money to computer hardware and software, equipment leasing and maintenance, and imaging, scanning, fax, and printing equipment.
• Requires the fee money to be kept in a segregated account subject to audit by a county-approved auditor.
• Ends the court's authority to collect the fee on July 1, 2031.
• Directs any leftover funds after termination to remain dedicated to Thomas County technology uses, while letting the judge declare a yearly surplus and transfer it to the county government.

People filing civil actions in the Probate Court of Thomas County, who would pay the new fee; the probate court clerk and judge, who set and collect it; and the Thomas County governing authority, which audits the funds and may receive surplus money.

Anyone filing a civil case in Thomas County's probate court would pay up to $10 more, and that money would fund the court's computers, software, and office equipment rather than the county's general budget, at least until the fee expires in 2031.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee cap at $10.00 per civil filing, with the exact amount set by the probate judge, and limits spending to three listed technology categories.
• Section 1(b) requires the fee revenue to be held in a segregated account and audited by an auditor approved by Thomas County's governing authority.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2031, keeps leftover funds dedicated to general county technology uses, and allows the judge to declare an annual surplus for transfer to the county.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 524
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-24Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-12House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)Primary sponsor
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 12, 2026

   156 yea, 0 nay (11 not voting, 8 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #506

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 24, 2026

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

• Thomas County
• probate court
• court fees
• local government funding