HB 1169: Spalding County; Probate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

This bill applies only to Spalding County. It authorizes the clerk of the Probate Court of Spalding County to charge and collect a technology fee, set by the probate judge, of up to $15.00 for each civil action filed with the court and up to $15.00 as a surcharge added to any fine the court imposes. The money raised must be used only for the court's technological needs, including buying or leasing computer hardware and software, maintaining and installing that equipment, buying or leasing 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 repeals any conflicting laws.

• Authorizes the Probate Court of Spalding County's clerk to charge a technology fee, capped at $15.00, on each civil action filed.
• Authorizes an additional technology surcharge, capped at $15.00, on each fine the court assesses.
• Restricts use of the fee revenue to specific technology purposes: hardware, software, audio-visual and imaging equipment, and technical support services.
• Requires the collected funds to be kept in a segregated account and spent only as directed by the chief judge of the probate court.

People who file civil actions in the Probate Court of Spalding County and people who are fined by that court, since both groups would pay the new fee. The court's clerk and chief judge would also be responsible for collecting, segregating, and directing the funds.

Residents dealing with Spalding County's probate court, whether filing paperwork or paying a fine, would face a small added cost of up to $15 each way. In exchange, the court would gain a dedicated funding source for computers, software, and technical support.

• Section 1(a) sets the fee amount, capped at $15.00 for civil filings and $15.00 as a fine surcharge, with the exact amount set by the probate judge.
• Section 1(a) lists the four allowed uses of the fee: computer purchases, hardware maintenance, audio-visual and related 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 the chief judge directs.
• 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 (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-02-24Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2026-02-17Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
8. 2026-02-12House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)Patrocinador principal
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes12 de febrero de 2026

   156 a favor, 0 en contra (11 sin votar, 8 ausentes)

   Local Calendar : House Vote #506

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado24 de febrero de 2026

   53 a favor, 0 en contra (1 sin votar, 1 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

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