Georgia House bill by author Rep. Stinson allowing Macon County Probate Court to collect technology fee passes House and Senate

Passed bill introduced by State Rep. Patty Marie Stinson aims to permit the Macon County Probate Court to collect a technology fee for funding court technology upgrades, following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Monday, March 31, clearing the House by a vote of 164-0 and the Senate by a vote of 49-0.

The bill, introduced as HB790 on Tuesday, March 18 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Macon County; Probate 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 permits the Probate Court of Macon County to impose a technology fee, not exceeding $5, for each civil action filed and each fine assessed. The collected fees will exclusively fund the court’s technological needs, such as purchasing and maintaining computer hardware, software, and related equipment, as well as converting court records to digital formats for public access. These funds will be kept in a separate account and used solely for these purposes. The authority to collect this fee will expire on July 1, 2035, after which any remaining funds will be allocated to general technology uses in Macon County. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

In the House, 71 Democrats and 93 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 19 Democrats and 30 Republicans voted in favor, also with no opposing votes.

Stinson graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2008.

Stinson, a Democrat, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 150th House District, replacing previous state representative James Beverly.

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.