Georgia Senate bill by Sen. Wicks on Clayton County solicitor-general salary passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Sen. Kenya Wicks aims to revise compensation rules for the Clayton County solicitor-general by setting salary parameters based on the chief judge’s pay, according to the Georgia State Senate.

It passed both chambers as of Thursday, April 2, clearing the House by a vote of 161-3 and the Senate by a vote of 50-0.

The bill, introduced as SB623 on Monday, March 16 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’State Court of Clayton County; compensation of the solicitor-general of the state court; revise provisions’.

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

In essence, this bill revises the compensation rules for the solicitor-general of the State Court of Clayton County by setting the salary at 95% of the total compensation of the court’s chief judge, including any state or county supplements, paid in biweekly installments from county funds. It caps the solicitor-general’s salary at the greater of $191,007 or 95% of the chief judge’s total compensation. The bill makes these changes effective on the first day of the month after the solicitor-general fully complies with countywide audits for 2024, 2025 and 2026 required under state law.

In the Senate, 21 Democrats and 29 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the House, 71 Democrats and 90 Republicans voted in favor, while three Republicans voted against it.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Yasmin Neal (Democrat-79th), Sen. Gail Davenport (Democrat-17th), and Sen. Elena Parent (Democrat-44th).

Wicks graduated from the University of Alabama in 2010 with a BS.

Wicks, a Democrat, was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 34th Senate District, replacing previous state senator Valencia Seay.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday, May 12.

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 Senate. The source data can be found here.