HB 858: Cobb County; State Court; change compensation and number of certain staff of solicitor-general

This bill amends the 1964 law that created the State Court of Cobb County, as later changed in 2017, to adjust staffing and pay for the solicitor-general's office. The solicitor-general prosecutes misdemeanor cases in state court, and relies on assistant solicitors to help carry out that work. The bill increases the number of assistant solicitors the solicitor-general can appoint, tying the count to the number of judges in Division I and Division II of the state court and the number of full-time magistrates in the Magistrate Court of Cobb County, plus four extra positions. It also sets a new minimum salary of at least $83,400 a year for all assistant solicitors, beginning January 1, 2027, with the exact amount set by the solicitor-general and approved by the Cobb County governing authority. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.

• Expands the number of assistant solicitors the solicitor-general of the State Court of Cobb County may appoint, linking the total to the number of judges and full-time magistrates plus four extra slots.
• Sets a new minimum annual salary of at least $83,400 for all assistant solicitors, effective January 1, 2027.
• Keeps the requirement that assistant solicitors be licensed to practice law in Georgia and be members in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia.
• Continues to let the solicitor-general designate certain assistant solicitors as supervisors, who may not engage in private legal practice while serving.
• Requires the exact compensation amount to be set by the solicitor-general and approved by the Cobb County governing authority, paid monthly from county funds.
• Sets the overall effective date of the Act as July 1, 2026.

The solicitor-general and assistant solicitors of the State Court of Cobb County, the Cobb County governing authority that approves salary amounts and pays from county funds, and indirectly the judges of the state court's two divisions and the Magistrate Court of Cobb County, whose staffing levels help set the assistant solicitor count.

The change means Cobb County's misdemeanor prosecution office could grow its legal staff and would have to pay assistant solicitors a higher guaranteed minimum salary starting in 2027, affecting the county budget and potentially the office's capacity to handle its caseload.

• Section 1 revises subsection (d) of Section 27 of the 1964 Act creating the State Court of Cobb County to change assistant solicitor staffing and pay.
• The solicitor-general may appoint two assistant solicitors per judge in Division I and Division II, plus one for each full-time magistrate, plus four additional positions.
• All assistant solicitors must be licensed Georgia attorneys in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia.
• Minimum compensation for assistant solicitors is set at $83,400 annually starting January 1, 2027, with the exact figure determined by the solicitor-general and approved by the Cobb County governing authority.
• Pay is disbursed in equal monthly installments from Cobb County's general funds.
• The solicitor-general may designate some assistant solicitors as supervisors, who are barred from private law practice while serving in that role.
• Section 2 sets the Act's effective date as July 1, 2026.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 523
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-04-10House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-04-02Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senado)
6. 2026-03-31House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2026-03-12Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senado)
8. 2026-03-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senado)

• Terry Cummings (D, HD-039)Patrocinador principal
• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)
• Devan Seabaugh (R, HD-034)
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)
• John Carson (R, HD-046)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes31 de marzo de 2025

   165 a favor, 0 en contra (10 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Local Calendar Without Hbs 851 & 852: House Vote #342

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado12 de marzo de 2026

   43 a favor, 0 en contra (7 sin votar, 5 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #706

3. AprobadaVotación: Senado2 de abril de 2026

   50 a favor, 0 en contra (2 sin votar, 2 ausentes)

   Agree To House Amendment To Senate Substitute: Senate Vote #962

• Cobb County government
• state courts
• local government salaries
• prosecutors and solicitors
• Georgia local legislation