HB 936: Berlin, City of; Municipal Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill authorizes the clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Berlin to add a technology fee, set by the municipal court judge but capped at $10, onto each criminal and quasi-criminal fine paid to the court. The money collected can only be spent on specific technology needs: buying computer hardware and software, leasing and maintaining computer equipment, and purchasing or maintaining imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment. The fee money must be kept in a separate account managed by the court clerk and is subject to audit by an auditor approved by the Berlin city government. The bill sets an end date for the fee of July 1, 2030. Any leftover money in the account at that point stays dedicated to the city's general technology uses, though the city government can decide to transfer a surplus to itself if one exists.

• Authorizes the clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Berlin to charge a technology fee, capped at $10, on each criminal or quasi-criminal fine.
• 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 revenue to be kept in a segregated account subject to audit by a city-approved auditor.
• Sets July 1, 2030 as the date the fee authority ends, with leftover funds staying dedicated to city technology uses unless declared a surplus.
• Allows the Berlin city government to claim any surplus funds from the account if it determines a surplus exists.

People who are fined in the Municipal Court of the City of Berlin for criminal or quasi-criminal offenses, the court clerk who collects and manages the fee, the municipal court judge who sets its amount, and the Berlin city government, which oversees auditing and could receive surplus funds.

People fined in Berlin's municipal court could pay up to $10 more per fine, funding specific technology upgrades for the court rather than general city budgets. The fee is temporary, ending in 2030, after which leftover money stays earmarked for city technology unless officials declare it surplus.

• Section 1(a) authorizes the fee, capped at $10.00, set by the municipal court judge and charged as a surcharge on each criminal and quasi-criminal fine.
• Section 1(a) limits fee spending to three categories: computer hardware and software purchases; leasing, maintenance, and installation of computer hardware; and purchase, lease, maintenance, and installation of imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment and software.
• Section 1(b) requires the funds to be kept in a segregated account managed by the court clerk and subject to audit by a city-approved auditor.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2030 and dedicates leftover funds to general city technology uses, unless the city government finds a surplus and directs the clerk to transfer it to the city.
• Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 525
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-17Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-02-17Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-09Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-06House Passed/Adopted (House)

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

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 6, 2026

   163 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 5 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #480

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 17, 2026

   48 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 3 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #548

• municipal court fees
• City of Berlin Georgia
• court technology funding
• local government finance