HB 999 Georgia House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Magistrate courts; collecting sums and fees authorized by law; revise provisions

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 5 of Chapter 10 of Title 15 the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fees and costs of magistrate courts, so as to revise provisions related to magistrate courts collecting sums and fees authorized by law; to amend an Act to amend Chapter 10 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to magistrate courts, so as to provide for nonpartisan election of magistrates, approved May 14, 2025 (Ga. L. 2025, p. 780), so as to correct a scrivener's error in the automatic repealer in said Act related to a constitutional amendment for the nonpartisan election of judges of the probate court; to provide legislative intent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

LC 47 3834/a → HB 999/AP* · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates Georgia's magistrate court rules by increasing the maximum civil claim amount from $15,000 to $25,000 and correcting a clerical error in the automatic repealer clause related to a 2025 constitutional amendment for nonpartisan probate judge elections.

Scope change

The bill expands the jurisdiction of magistrate courts to handle civil claims with values up to $25,000, whereas the previous limit was $15,000.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the maximum value of civil claims that a magistrate court can hear from $15,000 to $25,000.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a scrivener's error in the automatic repealer section to ensure the repeal provision for the 2025 nonpartisan election amendment applies only to the specific election section and not the entire bill.

TIMELINE

Adjusted the effective date for the corrected repealer provision to January 1, 2027, aligning it with the ratification deadline of the constitutional amendment.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 18, 2026 · House Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

39–4

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 47

Mar 18, 2026

D Democratic18

16 Yea 1 Nay 1

88% Yea

R Republican29

23 Yea 3 Nay 3

79% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

Act 707

upper

May 12, 2026

Signed into law

House Date Signed by Governor

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Introduced

Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Introduced

House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee Favorably Reported

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Senate Read and Referred

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Passed/Adopted

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee Favorably Reported

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

House Hopper

lower

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors