SB 316: Probate Court of Clinch County; assessment and collection of a technology fee; authorize

This bill authorizes the governing authority of Clinch County to adopt a resolution letting the clerk of the Probate Court of Clinch County charge a technology fee, capped at $5.00, on civil actions, estate filings, fines, convictions, and affidavit filings (except affidavits of indigency). The fee can only be charged once per party per case. The money collected must be used only for the probate court's technology needs, such as buying or maintaining computer hardware and software, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing court records for public access. The clerk must remit collected funds monthly to the county, which must keep them in a separate account (or a joint account with Magistrate Court technology fees if the two courts share a judge), and the account must be audited annually. All conflicting laws are repealed.

• Authorizes Clinch County's governing authority to adopt a resolution allowing the Probate Court clerk to collect a technology fee of up to $5.00 per party per case.
• Applies the fee to civil actions, estate filings, fines, convictions, and affidavit filings, but exempts affidavits of indigency.
• Limits use of the fee revenue to specific technology purchases, including hardware, software, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing court records.
• Requires the clerk to remit collected fees monthly to the county, which must hold them in a segregated account and audit it annually.
• Allows the technology fee funds to be combined with Magistrate Court technology fee funds in a joint account if the Probate and Magistrate judgeships are consolidated.

People filing civil actions, estate cases, or affidavits in Clinch County's Probate Court, as well as those who receive fines or convictions there. It also affects the Clinch County governing authority and the Probate Court clerk, who are responsible for collecting, holding, and auditing the fee revenue.

Georgians who use Clinch County's Probate Court for estate filings, civil actions, or certain court matters would pay a small added fee, up to $5, that funds court technology upgrades like digital recordkeeping and printing equipment, rather than relying solely on general county budgets.

• Section 1(a) authorizes the county governing authority to set, by resolution, a technology fee not exceeding $5.00 on civil actions, estate filings, fine surcharges, convictions, and affidavit filings except affidavits of indigency.
• Section 1(a) limits the fee to being assessed once per party per action or proceeding.
• Section 1(a)(1)-(4) restricts fee revenue to computer hardware and software, equipment leasing and maintenance, imaging and printing equipment, and digitizing court records for public access.
• Section 1(b) requires the clerk to remit collected fees to the county monthly and requires the county to keep the funds in a segregated account, audited annually.
• Section 1(b) allows a joint consolidated account with Magistrate Court technology fees if the Probate and Magistrate Judge positions are consolidated.
• Section 2 repeals all conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 606
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-02-06House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-02-06House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-02-06House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2025-03-13House Second Readers (House)

• Russ Goodman (R, SD-008)Primary sponsor
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 10, 2025

   43 yea, 1 nay (3 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #221

2. PassedHouse voteFebruary 6, 2026

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

   Local Calendar : House Vote #480

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