HB940: HB940 Tift County; State Court; provide for compensation of the judge

This bill amends the 1971 law that created the State Court of Tift County, as previously amended in 2006 and 2016. It changes how much the court's judge and solicitor-general are paid. Under the bill, the judge cannot practice law while serving and must be paid an annual salary set by the Tift County Board of Commissioners, of at least $100,000 but no more than 75 percent of what a Tifton Judicial Circuit superior court judge earns from the state. That salary comes from the county's general fund in 12 monthly payments. The solicitor-general's position is confirmed as full time, with a salary set by the county commission of at least $90,000, also paid from the county general fund. The bill repeals any conflicting laws.

• Sets a minimum salary of $100,000 for the judge of the State Court of Tift County, capped at 75 percent of a Tifton Judicial Circuit superior court judge's state salary.
• Requires the Tift County Board of Commissioners to fix the judge's exact salary within that range and pay it from the county general fund in 12 monthly installments.
• Continues the rule that the judge cannot practice law while holding office.
• Confirms the solicitor-general position is full time and sets a minimum annual salary of $90,000, to be fixed by the county commission and paid from the county general fund.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with these new salary provisions.

The judge and solicitor-general of the State Court of Tift County, the Tift County Board of Commissioners, which must set the specific salaries, and Tift County taxpayers, whose general fund covers these salaries.

The bill guarantees higher minimum pay for two key Tift County court officials, funded locally rather than by the state, which affects the county's budget and could influence who is willing to serve in or remain in these judicial roles.

• Section 1 replaces the judge's compensation language, setting a salary floor of $100,000 and a ceiling of 75 percent of a Tifton Judicial Circuit superior court judge's state salary, paid monthly from the county general fund.
• Section 1 keeps in place the requirement that the judge not practice law during his or her term.
• Section 2 revises Section 8 of the original Act to confirm the solicitor-general's office is full time and set a $90,000 salary floor, paid from the county general fund.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 529
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)

• Jaclyn Ford (R, HD-170)Primary sponsor
• Angie O'Steen (R, HD-169)

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

• Tift County
• state court judges
• local government pay
• Georgia judiciary
• solicitor-general