Georgia Legislature approves technology fee for Berlin Municipal Court through Cannon bill

A recently enacted measure sponsored by State Rep. Chas Cannon authorizes the Berlin Municipal Court to impose a technology fee on fines, with proceeds designated specifically for technology upgrades, according to the Georgia State House.

The bill secured passage in both chambers as of Tuesday, Feb. 17, receiving a 165-0 vote in the House and passing the Senate 48-1.

Filed as HB936 on Monday, Jan. 12 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, the measure is officially titled: ’Berlin, City of; Municipal Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee’.

This overview is based on the actual bill text and provides a summary of its key points.

The legislation grants the clerk of the Municipal Court of Berlin authority to add a technology surcharge of up to $10 on each criminal and quasi-criminal fine. Proceeds can only be used for designated court technology purposes, which may include computer hardware and software, associated leases, maintenance and installation, as well as imaging, scanning, facsimile, communications, projection and printing equipment and software. All funds must be maintained in a separate, auditable account. The ability to assess the fee expires July 1, 2030, but any remaining revenue must continue to be used for city technology needs, with excess funds eligible for transfer to the city government.

Within the House, 73 Democrats joined 92 Republicans to support the bill, with no dissenting votes recorded.

In the Senate, 19 Democrats and 29 Republicans voted in support, while one Republican opposed.

Cannon received his Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2001.

A member of the Republican Party, Cannon was elected in 2023 to the Georgia State House, representing the 172nd District, succeeding Sam Watson.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill into law on Monday, May 11.

In Georgia, the legislative process starts when a legislator, often at the request of a constituent, collaborates with the Office of Legislative Counsel to prepare a bill. Once filed with the Clerk of the House or Senate Secretary, the bill is read for the first time and referred to committee, where most debate and facts are gathered. If passed, it moves to the chamber floor for a third reading, additional debate, and a vote. For a bill to become law, it needs to pass both chambers, sometimes requiring a conference committee for reconciliation, before heading to the governor. The governor has six days during the session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or let the bill become law without action. The Georgia General Assembly meets every year 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.