SB 329: Flint Judicial Circuit; chief judge; annual stipend in addition to county compensation to superior court judges; provide

The Flint Judicial Circuit, which is made up of Henry County, currently pays supplements to its superior court judges, district attorney, and chief assistant district attorney under a 1984 law that has been amended before. This bill adds a new section to that law creating a special annual stipend just for the chief judge of the superior court. Under the bill, Henry County's governing authority would have to pay the chief judge an extra $10,000 per year from county funds, split into 12 equal monthly payments. This stipend comes on top of the state compensation the chief judge already receives and on top of any other county supplements already paid to superior court judges in the circuit. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not name a separate effective date beyond the standard process for local Acts.

• Adds a new section to the 1984 law governing Flint Judicial Circuit judicial salary supplements, creating a stipend specific to the chief judge.
• Requires Henry County's governing authority to pay the chief judge of the superior court an extra $10,000 per year from county funds.
• Sets the payment schedule as 12 equal monthly installments rather than a lump sum.
• Clarifies that this new stipend is in addition to, not a replacement for, any existing county supplements paid to superior court judges.
• Repeals any other laws that conflict with this new stipend requirement.

The chief judge of the superior court in the Flint Judicial Circuit, which covers Henry County, would receive the new stipend. Henry County's governing authority would be responsible for budgeting and paying it from county funds.

The chief judge in this circuit would receive $10,000 more per year in county-funded pay than other superior court judges in the circuit, funded directly from Henry County's budget rather than state funds, changing how that county allocates local tax dollars to judicial pay.

• Section 1 adds a new Section 1.1 to the 1984 Flint Judicial Circuit salary supplement law, creating the chief judge stipend.
• The new Section 1.1 requires Henry County to pay $10,000 per year to the chief judge, in 12 equal monthly payments, from county funds.
• The stipend is explicitly stated to be in addition to any existing county supplements given to superior court judges.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date 2025-05-13
2. 2025-05-13Act 248
3. 2025-05-13Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senado)
4. 2025-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senado)
5. 2025-04-02House Passed/Adopted (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2025-04-02House Third Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
7. 2025-04-02House Committee Favorably Reported (Cámara de Representantes)
8. 2025-03-27House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)

• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)Patrocinador principal
• Gail Davenport (D, SD-017)
• Ricky Williams (R, SD-025)
• Emanuel Jones (D, SD-010)
• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)

1. AprobadaVotación: Senado21 de marzo de 2025

   53 a favor, 0 en contra (2 sin votar, 1 ausentes)

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #265

2. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes2 de abril de 2025

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

   Local Calendar : House Vote #377

• judicial pay
• Henry County government
• Flint Judicial Circuit
• local government funding
• courts