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Read. Follow. Verify.Berrien County Magistrate Court authorized to assess $5 technology fee on civil filings and fines
Last action · May 11, 2026: House Date Signed by GovernorSponsors: Jaclyn Ford and 1 other
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What This Bill Does
The Magistrate Court of Berrien County is authorized to charge a technology fee of up to $5.00 for each filing and as a on court fines through July 1, 2036. These funds must be kept in a and used exclusively for computer hardware, software, imaging equipment, and digital record conversion.
Litigants and individuals assessed fines in the Magistrate Court of Berrien County will pay up to $5.00 more per filing or penalty to fund court technology upgrades over the next decade.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Civil litigants in Berrien County
Civil litigants face an additional fee of up to $5.00 for filing actions in the Magistrate Court of Berrien County.
Individuals assessed fines in Berrien County Magistrate Court
Individuals assessed fines face a surcharge of up to $5.00 dedicated to court technology.
Magistrate Court of Berrien County
The court receives dedicated funding streams for technology purchases, equipment leases, and digital record conversion.
Key Facts
- The clerk of the Magistrate Court of Berrien County is authorized to charge a technology fee set by the chief magistrate of up to $5.00 for each civil action filing.
- A technology fee surcharge not to exceed $5.00 may be added to each fine assessed by the court.
- Technology fee revenue must be kept in a segregated account by the clerk of the magistrate court.
- Collected funds must be used exclusively for computer hardware, software, imaging, scanning, communications equipment, and digital conversion of court records.
Show all 6 facts
- The authority to assess the technology fee terminates on July 1, 2036.
- Any residual funds remaining in the technology account upon termination must remain dedicated to general Berrien County technology uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can the technology fee be?
What can the technology fee money be spent on?
When does the technology fee expire?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
13 actions- May 11, 2026HouseEnrolledHouse Date Signed by Governor
- May 11, 2026GovernorEnrolledAct 526
- May 11, 2026Georgia General AssemblyEffective Date
- Apr 6, 2026HouseHouse Sent to Governor
- Feb 17, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported
- Feb 17, 2026SenateFloorSenate Passed/Adopted
Show 7 earlier actions
- Feb 9, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
- Feb 6, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported
- Feb 6, 2026HouseHouse Third Readers
- Feb 6, 2026HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted
- Jan 14, 2026HouseHouse Second Readers
- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Jan 12, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
Version history & redline
2 versions on fileLobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance25How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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