PRIA Logo™
GeorgiaHB 7982025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Spalding County; State Court; modernize, update, and readopt provisions

Sponsored By: Beth Camp (Republican), Karen Mathiak (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Intragovernmental CoordinationState and Local Governmental OperationsLocal Bill

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 6 mixed.

Spalding court users face optional technology fees

Beginning January 1, 2026, the chief judge can set technology charges up to $5 per civil filing and $5 per fine. These charges are optional, not automatic. The money goes into a separate State Court Technology Fund, used only for court technology under the chief judge's direction. Other clerk fees match comparable Superior Court services and go to the county treasury unless another law directs otherwise. Judges can appoint a court stenographer; responsible parties pay the same fees as for similar Superior Court services, collected the same way.

Spalding jurors get matching daily pay

Beginning January 1, 2026, State Court jurors receive the same daily pay as Spalding County Superior Court jurors. Spalding County pays them; the law does not state the daily amount. The chief judge can direct a different payment method or funding source. Jury selection follows court procedures and state law, and a shared jury pool can serve either court. Jury size and the number of jurors each side can reject without giving a reason follow state law.

Spalding County adds a second judge

Beginning January 1, 2026, Spalding County's State Court has two full-time judges. The Governor's authority to appoint the initial second judge begins when the act becomes law. The existing judge's term and the appointed judge's term end December 31, 2028; the appointee serves until a successor qualifies. County voters elect both posts in nonpartisan elections with the 2028 general primary, then every four years. The new four-year terms begin January 1, 2029. The longest-serving judge is chief judge, controls both case calendars and court rules, and resolves internal administrative disputes. The chief judge earns 90% of the Superior Court chief judge's total annual salary, including county supplements; the associate earns the same amount. Judges must meet state qualifications, and a qualified temporary judge can serve when a judge cannot preside or is disqualified.

Spalding County must support court supervision programs

Beginning January 1, 2026, Spalding County must keep operating and funding its Sentence Enforcement Department, which supervises people ordered to supervision. The county must also fully support the State Court Accountability Court; neither program has a stated funding amount. The chief judge selects both directors, who serve at the chief judge's pleasure. The county pays the chief judge at least $6,300 extra each year when the judge operates a listed specialty division. Those divisions are drug court, mental health court, veterans court, and operating-under-the-influence court.

Spalding County provides court facilities and operations

Beginning January 1, 2026, the law replaces earlier local court acts while continuing the State Court under Georgia's state-court laws and Supreme Court rules. Spalding County must provide court facilities at the county site. Court terms match Superior Court terms, with each staying open until the next; the court remains open for pleas, sentencing, and civil business. Prosecutions use written accusations, uniform traffic citations, or summonses. Appeals follow Superior Court appeal rules and go to the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court. The chief judge and solicitor-general must request needed, reasonable operating expenses and staff from county commissioners. The law does not set an appropriation or require approval of a specific amount.

Spalding court staff pay and collection rules

Beginning January 1, 2026, the chief judge appoints the court clerk, who serves at the chief judge's pleasure. The clerk earns 80% of the chief judge's annual salary. The Superior Court clerk can fill the role, and the sheriff also serves as State Court sheriff. Neither receives extra pay for these added duties unless general law requires it. Covered officials' court collections belong to Spalding County, including fees, costs, forfeitures, penalties, and other payments. Officials must send the money and an itemized statement to county fiscal authorities by the tenth of each month.

Spalding prosecutor gets election and pay rules

Beginning January 1, 2026, the State Court solicitor-general must work full time and meet state qualification and discipline rules. The incumbent serves through December 31, 2026, and until an elected successor qualifies. Successors are nominated and elected in partisan elections before the term expires. They serve four-year terms starting January 1 after election. Spalding County pays an annual salary equal to 90% of the State Court chief judge's total annual salary.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Beth Camp

    Republican • House

  • Karen Mathiak

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 213 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2025

LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR

Yes: 49 • No: 0 • Other: 5

House vote • 3/27/2025

Local Calendar

Yes: 164 • No: 0 • Other: 12

Actions Timeline

  1. House Date Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  2. Act 233

    5/13/2025

  3. Effective Date

    5/13/2025

  4. House Sent to Governor

    4/7/2025House

  5. Senate Committee Favorably Reported

    3/31/2025Senate

  6. Senate Passed/Adopted

    3/31/2025Senate

  7. Senate Read and Referred

    3/28/2025Senate

  8. House Committee Favorably Reported

    3/27/2025House

  9. House Third Readers

    3/27/2025House

  10. House Passed/Adopted

    3/27/2025House

  11. House Second Readers

    3/21/2025House

  12. House First Readers

    3/20/2025House

  13. House Hopper

    3/18/2025House

Bill Text

  • HB 798/AP* (v4)

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation