Georgia House bill by author Rep. Meeks passes House and Senate, authorizing Pierce County court technology fees

Newly passed bill authored by State Rep. Steven Meeks seeks to allow Pierce County Magistrate Court to collect technology fees for court technology improvements after winning approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Tuesday, March 3, clearing the House by a vote of 162-0 and the Senate by a vote of 45-0.

The bill, introduced as HB1297 on Thursday, Feb. 12 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Pierce 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 clerk of the Magistrate Court of Pierce County to charge a technology fee of up to $10 on each civil case filing and up to $10 as a surcharge on each fine. It requires that all such fees be kept in a separate account and used only for the court’s technology needs, including buying, leasing, installing and maintaining computer hardware and software; audio-visual, scanning, fax, communications, projection and printing equipment; and services and equipment to preserve and digitize court records for public access. The authority to assess the fee ends July 1, 2036, after which any remaining funds stay dedicated to general Pierce County technology uses.

In the House, 66 Democrats and 96 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 15 Democrats and 30 Republicans voted in favor, also with no opposing votes.

Meeks graduated from the University of Georgia in 1984 with a BS.

Meeks, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2019 to represent the state’s 178th House District, replacing previous state representative Chad Nimmer.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday, May 11.

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.