---
title: SB 351. County of Treutlen; the salary of the judge and solicitor-general; change
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb351
cite_as: SB 351, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb351
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb351.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb351/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71542
date: 2026-05-11
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb350.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb352.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 890
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb351.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 351
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-11
last_action: Effective Date 2026-05-11
sponsors:
  - Larry Walker
  - Esther Panitch
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB351/2025
upstream_id: 2012206
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - local government pay
  - Treutlen County
  - state court salaries
  - judicial salaries
---

# SB 351. County of Treutlen; the salary of the judge and solicitor-general; change

## Text

Senate Bill 351
By: Senator Walker III of the 20th
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend an Act to establish the State Court of Treutlen (formerly known as the City Court
of Soperton), in and for the County of Treutlen, approved August 18, 1919 (Ga. L. 1919, p.
519), as amended, so as to change the salary of the judge and solicitor-general; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
An Act to establish the State Court of Treutlen (formerly known as the City Court of
Soperton), in and for the County of Treutlen, approved August 18, 1919 (Ga. L. 1919, p.
519), as amended, is amended by adding a new section to read as follows:
"SECTION 3.1
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act, beginning on July 1, 2025, the judge
shall receive an annual salary of not less than $55,000.08. Beginning on July 1, 2025, the
solicitor-general shall receive an annual salary of not less than $49,000.08. Payments shall
be made in equal monthly installments from the funds of Treutlen County. The judge and
the solicitor-general may succeed themselves in office."
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

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.

### Plain-language summary

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 it 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.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-05-11)
- Last action: Effective Date 2026-05-11 (2026-05-11)
- Sponsors: Larry Walker, Esther Panitch
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71542

> The history, votes, and amendments (890 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb351.md?full=1