Georgia House bill by Rep. Cannon allowing Cook County Magistrate Court technology fee passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Chas Cannon seeks to allow the Cook County Magistrate Court to assess a technology fee on civil cases, following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Wednesday, Feb. 12, clearing the House by a vote of 160-1 and the Senate by a vote of 52-1.

The bill, introduced as HB33 on Monday, Jan. 13 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Cook County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill authorizes the Magistrate Court of Cook County to assess a technology fee, not exceeding $5, for each civil action filed. The collected fees are exclusively for the court’s technological needs, including the purchase, lease, maintenance, and installation of computer hardware, software, and related equipment. These funds are to be kept in a separate account subject to audits and will be used solely for the stated purposes. The authority to assess this fee expires on July 1, 2030, with any remaining funds earmarked for general technology uses in Cook County. The chief magistrate may declare a surplus annually and transfer any excess to the county’s governing authority. Conflicting laws are repealed.

In the House, 70 Democrats and 90 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while one Democrat opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 21 Democrats and 31 Republicans voted in favor, while one Republican voted against it.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Jaclyn Ford (Republican-170th).

Cannon graduated from United States Military Academy at West Point in 2001 with a BS.

Cannon, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 172nd House District, replacing previous state representative Sam Watson.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday, April 30.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.