HB1169: HB1169 Spalding County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill applies only to the Probate Court of Spalding County, Georgia. It authorizes the clerk of that court to charge and collect a technology fee, set by the probate judge, of no more than $15 for each civil action filed with the court and no more than $15 as an added surcharge on each fine the court assesses. The money collected can only be used for the court's technology needs, such as buying or leasing computer hardware and software, maintaining and installing audio-visual, imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, recording, and printing equipment, and paying for technical support services. The funds must be kept in a separate account managed by the clerk and spent only as directed by the chief judge of the court. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Authorizes the Spalding County Probate Court clerk to charge a technology fee of up to $15 on each civil action filed with the court.
• Authorizes an additional surcharge of up to $15 on each fine the court assesses, also capped at $15.
• Restricts use of the collected fees to specific technology purposes: hardware, software, audio-visual and imaging equipment, and technical support services.
• Requires the fees to be kept in a segregated account managed by the clerk and spent only as directed by the chief judge.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new fee authorization.

People who file civil actions in the Probate Court of Spalding County and people fined by that court, since they would pay the new fee or surcharge. It also affects the court's clerk and chief judge, who administer and direct the collected funds.

Anyone filing a civil case or paying a fine in Spalding County's Probate Court would face a new added cost of up to $15 per fee category, while the court gains a dedicated funding stream to upgrade computers, imaging equipment, and technical support rather than relying on general county budgets.

• Section 1(a) sets the technology fee at up to $15.00 for each civil action filed and up to $15.00 as a surcharge on each fine, with the exact amount set by the probate judge.
• Section 1(a) lists the only permitted uses: computer hardware and software purchases, leasing and maintenance of hardware, audio-visual and imaging equipment, and technical support services.
• Section 1(b) requires the funds to be held in a segregated account controlled by the clerk and spent only as directed by the chief judge.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 544
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-02-24Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-02-12House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)Primary sponsor
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 12, 2026

   156 yea, 0 nay (11 not voting, 8 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #506

2. PassedSenate voteFebruary 24, 2026

   53 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

• Spalding County government
• probate court fees
• local court funding
• court technology