Georgia House bill by Rep. Camp allowing Spalding County State Court to collect technology fee passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill introduced by State Rep. Beth Camp authorizes Spalding County State Court to collect a technology fee, aiming to support the court’s technological needs, after winning approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Tuesday, Feb. 24, clearing the House by a vote of 158-0 and the Senate by a vote of 53-0.

The bill, introduced as HB1170 on Tuesday, Feb. 3 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Spalding County; State 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 State Court of Spalding County to collect a technology fee, set by the state court judge, of up to $15 on each civil filing and up to $15 as a surcharge on each fine. It requires that all technology fee revenue be kept in a segregated account and used only for the court’s technological needs, including computer hardware and software, equipment for audio-visual, imaging, scanning, communications, projection, recording and printing, related leases, maintenance and installation, and technical support services, as directed by the court’s chief judge.

In the House, 70 Democrats and 88 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 23 Democrats and 30 Republicans voted in favor, also with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Karen Mathiak (Republican-82nd).

Camp graduated from Georgia Military College at Milledgeville in 1997 with an AS and again in 2017 from Clayton State University with a BA.

Camp, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 135th House District, replacing previous state representative Calvin Smyre.

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.