HB 940: Tift County; State Court; provide for compensation of the judge

This bill amends the 1971 law that created the State Court of Tift County, which has been changed several times since. It rewrites the pay provisions for two officials: the state court judge and the solicitor-general (the county's local prosecutor for that court). Under the bill, the Tift County Board of Commissioners must set the judge's annual salary at no less than $100,000 and no more than 75 percent of what a superior court judge in the Tifton Judicial Circuit earns from the state. The judge remains barred from practicing law while in office. The solicitor-general's position is made a full-time job, with a salary set by the county commission at not less than $90,000 per year. Both salaries are paid from Tift County's general fund in monthly installments. The bill repeals any conflicting laws.

• Sets the Tift County State Court judge's minimum annual salary at $100,000, capped at 75 percent of a Tifton Judicial Circuit superior court judge's state salary.
• Requires the judge's salary to be paid from Tift County's general fund in 12 monthly installments.
• Keeps the existing ban on the judge practicing law while serving on the bench.
• Makes the solicitor-general's position full time and sets a minimum annual salary of $90,000, paid from the county general fund.
• Repeals any prior laws that conflict with these new pay provisions.

The judge and solicitor-general of the State Court of Tift County, the Tift County Board of Commissioners, which must set the salaries within the new limits, and Tift County taxpayers, whose general fund covers the pay.

The bill changes how much Tift County's state court judge and solicitor-general are paid and who decides it, guaranteeing minimum salaries funded by the county while capping the judge's pay relative to a superior court judge's salary.

• Section 1 rewrites the judge's compensation clause, setting a floor of $100,000 and a ceiling of 75 percent of the Tifton Judicial Circuit superior court judge's state salary, set annually by the county commission.
• Section 1 continues the requirement that the judge not practice law during his or her term and be paid monthly from the county general fund.
• Section 2 revises Section 8 to make the solicitor-general's office full time with a minimum salary of $90,000, set by the county commission and paid from the general fund.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-05-11
2. 2026-05-11Act 529
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2026-02-17Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
6. 2026-02-17Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
7. 2026-02-09Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
8. 2026-02-06House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)

• Jaclyn Ford (R, HD-170)Patrocinador principal
• Angie O'Steen (R, HD-169)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes6 de febrero de 2026

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

   Local Calendar : House Vote #480

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado17 de febrero de 2026

   48 a favor, 1 en contra (2 sin votar, 3 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #548

• Tift County
• state court judge pay
• local government
• solicitor-general
• county salaries