SB620: SB620 State Court of Barrow County; a full-time solicitor-general; provide

The State Court of Barrow County was created by a 2020 act of the Georgia General Assembly, which included provisions for an elected solicitor-general, the local prosecutor who handles certain cases in that court. This bill amends that 2020 act by rewriting Section 12 to specify that the solicitor-general must serve full time. The bill sets the solicitor-general's annual salary at 95 percent of the salary paid to the district attorney of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, not counting local pay supplements, capped at a maximum of $142,500.00, plus all legally required benefits, paid out of Barrow County funds on the same schedule as other county employees. It also allows the solicitor-general to hire assistant solicitors-general, attorneys, investigators, paraprofessionals, clerical staff, and victim and witness assistance personnel, with the Barrow County Board of Commissioners approving staffing levels and pay. Any investigator hired must meet Georgia's peace officer certification standards under the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Act.

• Requires the solicitor-general of the State Court of Barrow County to serve full time rather than part time.
• Sets the solicitor-general's salary at 95 percent of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit district attorney's salary, excluding local supplements, capped at $142,500.00 per year.
• Requires the solicitor-general's salary and legally required benefits to be paid from Barrow County funds on the same schedule as other county employees.
• Allows the solicitor-general to hire assistant solicitors-general, attorneys, investigators, and support staff, subject to approval by the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
• Requires any investigator hired by the office to meet Georgia's peace officer certification standards under the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Act.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with these changes.

The bill affects the elected solicitor-general of the State Court of Barrow County, county officials including the Barrow County Board of Commissioners who approve staffing and pay, and any assistant solicitors-general, attorneys, investigators, and support staff the office employs.

By making the solicitor-general's job full time and tying pay to a fixed formula and county funding, the bill changes how much Barrow County spends on this office and how it staffs prosecutions in state court, potentially affecting caseload capacity and local budgeting.

• Section 1 rewrites Section 12 of the 2020 act creating the State Court of Barrow County to require a full-time solicitor-general, elected for four-year terms as provided under Title 15 and Title 21 of the O.C.G.A.
• Subsection (b) requires the solicitor-general to meet the qualifications set out in Article 3 of Chapter 18 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A. and to serve full time.
• Subsection (c) sets the salary at 95 percent of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit district attorney's pay, excluding local supplements, with a cap of $142,500.00, plus required benefits paid by Barrow County.
• Subsection (d) permits the solicitor-general to hire assistant solicitors-general and other staff, with pay and staffing levels approved by the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
• Subsection (d) requires investigators hired under this section to meet peace officer certification standards under the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Act (O.C.G.A. Chapter 8 of Title 35).
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 620
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-04-02House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-04-02House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2026-03-23House Second Readers (House)

• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)Primary sponsor
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Frank Ginn (R, SD-047)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 19, 2026

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #745

2. PassedHouse voteApril 2, 2026

   94 yea, 75 nay (2 not voting, 5 absent)

   Supplemental Local Calendar : House Vote #857

• Barrow County
• state courts
• prosecutors
• local government salaries
• county government