HB1037: HB1037 Cobb County; State Court; change compensation of judges

The State Court of Cobb County was created by a 1964 state law that has been amended over the years, including to set judicial pay. This bill changes two specific dollar figures in that law. It raises the chief judge's additional yearly compensation from $11,328.25 to $11,894.66. It also raises the annual salary for judges of Division 1 of the State Court of Cobb County from $217,134.20 to $227,990.91. The bill repeals any conflicting laws so these new figures control going forward. It does not change the court's structure, jurisdiction, or judges' duties, only their pay.

• Raises the chief judge of the State Court of Cobb County's additional annual compensation from $11,328.25 to $11,894.66.
• Raises the annual salary of Division 1 judges of the State Court of Cobb County from $217,134.20 to $227,990.91.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with these updated salary figures.

The chief judge and Division 1 judges of the State Court of Cobb County, whose pay increases under this bill, and Cobb County taxpayers, whose county government funds these judicial salaries.

The bill changes how much Cobb County pays specific judges out of public funds, giving the chief judge and Division 1 judges a raise. It does not alter court operations, case handling, or public services, only the compensation tied to these judicial positions.

• Section 1 amends Section 3 of Part 1 of the 1964 Act to raise the chief judge's additional compensation to $11,894.66 per year.
• Section 2 amends Section 23 of Part 1 of the 1964 Act to raise Division 1 judges' salary to $227,990.91 per year.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws so the new salary figures take precedence.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 534
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)

• Terry Cummings (D, HD-039)Primary sponsor
• Solomon Adesanya (D, HD-043)
• Don Parsons (R, HD-044)
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)

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

• Cobb County
• state court judges
• judicial salaries
• local government law