HB1539: HB1539 Ware County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Ware County to charge a technology fee, set by the probate judge, of not more than $10 on each civil action filed with the court and not more than $10 as a surcharge on each fine the court assesses. The money collected must be kept in a separate account and can only be spent on the court's technology needs: buying computer hardware and software, leasing or maintaining that equipment, and buying, leasing, maintaining, or installing imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment. The authority to collect the fee ends on July 1, 2036. Any money left in the account at that point would go to general Ware County technology uses, decided by the Ware County Board of Commissioners. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Authorizes the Probate Court of Ware County's clerk to charge up to a $10 technology fee on each civil action filed with the court.
• Authorizes an additional surcharge of up to $10 on each fine the court assesses, also for technology funding.
• Restricts use of the collected fees to specific technology purchases, leases, maintenance, and installation for the probate court.
• Requires the fees to be kept in a separate, segregated account managed by the clerk of the probate court.
• Sets an end date of July 1, 2036 for the fee, after which leftover funds go to general Ware County technology uses at the Board of Commissioners' discretion.

People who file civil actions in the Probate Court of Ware County, people who are fined by that court, the court's clerk who collects and manages the fee, the probate judge who sets the fee amount, and the Ware County Board of Commissioners, who would control leftover funds after 2036.

Ware County residents using the probate court for civil filings or paying fines could pay up to an extra $20 combined, money meant to fund the court's computers and equipment rather than general county spending, with the arrangement automatically expiring in 2036 unless renewed.

• Section 1(a) sets the maximum technology fee at $10 for civil filings and a separate $10 surcharge on fines, with the exact amount set by the probate judge.
• Section 1(a) limits fee spending to computer hardware and software, related maintenance and installation, and imaging, scanning, fax, communications, projection, and printing equipment.
• Section 1(b) requires the clerk to keep collected fees in a segregated account used only for the authorized technology purposes.
• Section 1(c) terminates the fee authority on July 1, 2036 and sends any remaining funds to general Ware County technology uses as decided by the county commissioners.
• Section 2 repeals any existing laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2026-05-12
2. 2026-05-12Act 675
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
• probate court
• local government technology