Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 351: County of Treutlen; the salary of the judge and solicitor-general; change
Last action May 11, 2026 · Effective Date
A Senate bill would set new minimum salaries for the judge and solicitor-general of the State Court of Treutlen, effective retroactively to July 1, 2025.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This bill amends the 1919 law that created the State Court of Treutlen, formerly known as the City Court of Soperton. It adds a new section setting minimum annual salaries for two local officials: the court's judge and its solicitor-general (the local prosecutor for that court). Starting July 1, 2025, the judge must be paid at least $55,000.08 a year, and the solicitor-general must be paid at least $49,000.08 a year. Both salaries are paid in equal monthly installments from Treutlen County funds. The bill also confirms that both the judge and the solicitor-general may be reelected or reappointed to serve additional terms. The bill repeals any conflicting laws.
What the bill does
- Sets a new minimum annual salary of $55,000.08 for the judge of the State Court of Treutlen, retroactive to July 1, 2025.
- Sets a new minimum annual salary of $49,000.08 for the court's solicitor-general (local prosecutor), retroactive to July 1, 2025.
- Requires both salaries to be paid in equal monthly installments from Treutlen County funds.
- Confirms that the judge and solicitor-general are eligible to succeed themselves in office.
- Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these new salary provisions.
Who it affects
The current and future judge and solicitor-general of the State Court of Treutlen, Treutlen County's government which funds these salaries from county funds, and residents of Treutlen County who rely on this local court.
Why it matters
The change guarantees higher minimum pay for two specific local court officials in Treutlen County, funded directly by the county, which affects the county budget and could influence who is willing to serve in or continue holding these positions.
Key provisions
- Section 1 adds a new Section 3.1 to the 1919 Act establishing the State Court of Treutlen, setting the judge's minimum salary at $55,000.08 per year starting July 1, 2025.
- Section 1 also sets the solicitor-general's minimum salary at $49,000.08 per year starting July 1, 2025.
- Section 1 specifies that both salaries are paid from Treutlen County funds in equal monthly installments.
- Section 1 states that the judge and solicitor-general may succeed themselves in office.
- Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“beginning on July 1, 2025, the judge shall receive an annual salary of not less than $55,000.08.”
“the solicitor-general shall receive an annual salary of not less than $49,000.08.”
Discussed in meetings (1)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House floor session, February 20, 2026 (legislative day 22)
From 0:47:49 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Committee Favorably Reported)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The clerk read a favorable committee report on SB 351. The Treutlen County measure was later included in the uncontested local calendar, with no separate presentation or debate. The House passed the calendar as a whole by 162–0.
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 609
- Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
Show full history (13 actions)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Larry Walker, III (R, SD-20)
- Esther Panitch (D, HD-51)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 27, 2025
52 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 4 excused)
- House voteFebruary 20, 2026
162 yea, 0 nay (9 not voting, 6 excused)
Topics
- local government pay
- Treutlen County
- state court salaries
- judicial salaries