HB1513: HB1513 Fayette County; State Court; change compensation of judge

This bill amends the 1994 Act that created the State Court of Fayette County, as previously amended in 2022, to update how much the court's judge and solicitor (the local prosecutor for the court) are paid. It sets the judge's base salary at $175,844.82 a year and the solicitor's base salary at $154,605.20 a year, both paid monthly from Fayette County funds. Both officials would also get an automatic longevity increase equal to 5 percent of their base salary for every completed four-year term served after July 1, 2022, with the raise taking effect each January 1 following a completed term. Local law could still supplement these base salaries further. The law would take effect on the first day of the month after the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law.

• Sets the State Court of Fayette County judge's base salary at $175,844.82 per year, paid monthly from county funds.
• Sets the State Court of Fayette County solicitor's base salary at $154,605.20 per year, paid monthly from county funds.
• Grants both the judge and solicitor a 5 percent longevity raise for each completed four-year term served after July 1, 2022.
• Allows local or general law to add supplemental pay on top of the new base salaries.
• Sets the effective date as the first day of the month following the Governor's signature or the bill becoming law without it.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with these new compensation provisions.

The bill directly affects the judge and solicitor of the State Court of Fayette County, whose pay is set by this Act, as well as Fayette County government, which funds these salaries from county funds.

The change determines how much Fayette County taxpayers pay for two specific court officials and builds in automatic raises tied to time served in office, rather than requiring a new law each time compensation needs updating for longevity.

• Section 1 revises Section 17 of the 1994 Act, setting the judge's base salary at $175,844.82 and allowing supplemental pay under general or local law.
• Section 1 also adds a 5 percent per-term longevity raise for the judge based on completed four-year terms served after July 1, 2022, effective each following January 1.
• Section 2 revises Section 21 of the 1994 Act, setting the solicitor's base salary at $154,605.20 with the same supplemental pay option.
• Section 2 adds an identical 5 percent per-term longevity raise structure for the solicitor.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the first day of the month after the Governor approves the Act or it becomes law without approval.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-06-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 576
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-19Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-19Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-16Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-12House Passed/Adopted (House)

• Josh Bonner (R, HD-073)Primary sponsor
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)
• Debra Bazemore (D, HD-069)
• Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 12, 2026

   158 yea, 0 nay (10 not voting, 8 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #697

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 19, 2026

   49 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #745

• Fayette County government
• state court judges
• local government salaries
• court solicitor pay