HB1540: HB1540 Ware County; State Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill gives the clerk of the State Court of Ware County new authority to charge a technology fee, capped at $10.00 for each civil case filed and up to $10.00 as a surcharge on every fine the court imposes. The judge of the state court sets the exact amount within those limits. The money collected can only be spent on the court's technology needs: buying computer hardware and software, leasing, maintaining, and installing that equipment, and purchasing or maintaining imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment. The funds must be kept in a separate account used only for these purposes. The fee authority expires on July 1, 2036, and any money left in the account at that point stays dedicated to general Ware County technology needs, to be decided by the Ware County Board of Commissioners.

• Authorizes the clerk of the State Court of Ware County to charge a technology fee of up to $10.00 on each civil case filed.
• Authorizes an additional surcharge of up to $10.00 on every fine the State Court of Ware County assesses.
• Restricts use of the collected fees to computer hardware and software, related maintenance and installation, and office imaging and communications equipment.
• Requires the fees to be kept in a separate, segregated account used only for these technology purposes.
• Sets a termination date of July 1, 2036 for the fee, after which leftover funds go to general Ware County technology uses decided by the county commissioners.

People who file civil lawsuits in the State Court of Ware County and people who are fined by that court, since both fees would apply to them. It also affects the clerk of the state court, the state court judge, and the Ware County Board of Commissioners, who administer and oversee the funds.

Anyone filing a civil case or paying a court fine in Ware County would pay a modest extra fee, money that would go toward upgrading the court's computers, printers, and communication equipment rather than the county's general budget, at least until the authority expires in 2036.

• Section 1(a) sets the technology fee cap at $10.00 per civil filing and $10.00 as a surcharge on each fine, with the exact amount set by the state court judge.
• Section 1(a) limits fee spending to computer hardware and software purchases, leasing, maintenance, and installation, and to imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment.
• Section 1(b) requires the clerk to keep collected funds in a segregated account used only for the authorized technology purposes.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2036 and directs any remaining funds to general Ware County technology uses at the discretion of the Ware County Board of Commissioners.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 676
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-25Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-25Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
7. 2026-03-23Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
8. 2026-03-20House Passed/Adopted (House)

• James Burchett (R, HD-176)Primary sponsor

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 20, 2026

   153 yea, 0 nay (14 not voting, 9 absent)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #734

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 25, 2026

   50 yea, 0 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #799

• court fees
• Ware County
• state courts
• local government funding