SB 492: State Court of Cobb County; additional assistant solicitor positions; provide

The State Court of Cobb County currently allows the solicitor-general, the county's chief prosecutor for that court, to appoint a set number of assistant solicitors based on the number of judges and magistrates in the county. This bill increases that number by adding seven additional assistant solicitor positions on top of the existing formula. The bill also raises the minimum annual pay for all assistant solicitors to at least $83,400, though the solicitor-general still sets the exact amount for each person. That pay increase would begin January 1, 2027. The bill keeps existing rules requiring assistant solicitors to be licensed to practice law in Georgia and in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia, and it keeps the solicitor-general's authority to designate some assistant solicitors as supervisors. The overall law would take effect July 1, 2026.

• Adds seven additional assistant solicitor positions to the State Court of Cobb County solicitor-general's office, beyond the existing formula tied to judges and magistrates.
• Sets a new minimum salary of at least $83,400 per year for all assistant solicitors, effective January 1, 2027.
• Keeps the requirement that assistant solicitors be licensed to practice law in Georgia and remain members in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia.
• Preserves the solicitor-general's authority to set exact pay within the new minimum and to designate certain assistant solicitors as supervisors.

The solicitor-general and assistant solicitors of the State Court of Cobb County, whose staffing levels and minimum pay would change, and Cobb County taxpayers, since the salaries are paid from the county's general funds.

More assistant solicitor positions could help the Cobb County solicitor-general's office handle its caseload, while the higher minimum salary could affect the county's budget and its ability to recruit and retain prosecutors starting in 2027.

• Section 1 revises subsection (d) of Section 27 of the 1964 Act creating the State Court of Cobb County, adding seven additional assistant solicitor positions to the existing formula based on judges and magistrates.
• Section 1 sets a minimum annual salary of $83,400 for all assistant solicitors beginning January 1, 2027, with the exact amount set by the solicitor-general.
• Section 1 retains the requirement that assistant solicitors be licensed Georgia attorneys in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia and be paid monthly from county general funds.
• Section 2 sets the overall effective date of the Act as July 1, 2026.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-26House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2026-02-25House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2026-02-24Senate Passed/Adopted (Senado)
4. 2026-02-24Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senado)
5. 2026-02-11Senate Read and Referred (Senado)
6. 2026-02-10Senate Hopper (Senado)

• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)Patrocinador principal
• Michael Rhett (D, SD-033)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Jaha Howard (D, SD-035)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)

1. AprobadaVotación: Senado24 de febrero de 2026

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

   Local Consent Calendar: Senate Vote #571

• Cobb County government
• prosecutors' salaries
• state court staffing
• local legislation