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GA HB85

GA HB85
Superior Court Judicial Compensation Reform Act; enact

summary

Introduced
01/16/2025
In Committee
03/20/2025
Crossed Over
02/20/2025
Passed
04/09/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/12/2025

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 15 the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions concerning superior courts, so as to modify provisions regarding the compensation received by superior court judges; to provide procedures for superior court judges to opt to receive compensation pursuant to such revised procedures; to provide for grandfathering of certain judges so as to not reduce the compensation paid to such judges; to authorize locality pay by counties to superior court judges in lieu of county salary supplements; to abolish most county salary supplements provided to superior court judges; to authorize the continuation of county salary supplements for chief judges; to authorize continuation of fringe benefits provided by counties to superior court judges; to preserve existing rights and obligations related to retirement benefits provided by counties to superior court judges; to provide for retirement benefits relative to optional locality pay; to amend Code Section 45-7-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to annual salaries of certain state officials and cost-of-living adjustments, so as to revise provisions relating to calculating and setting the salaries of superior court judges; to provide a definition; to amend Chapter 3 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to laws and statutes, so as to suspend the operation of local laws or local ordinances or resolutions that use a superior court judge's salary for the calculation of the salary or compensation of other officers, officials, or employees; to provide for an automatic lifting of such suspension LC 47 3366S/AP relative to judges; to preserve the authority of the General Assembly to amend or repeal such suspended local laws; to preserve the authority of local governments to use other mechanisms to change salary calculation during such suspension; to provide for legislative construction; to provide for a definition; to provide a short title; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill introduces comprehensive reforms to superior court judicial compensation in Georgia, effective July 1, 2025. The legislation provides superior court judges currently in office with an optional, irrevocable choice to receive a new compensation structure consisting of a state-set base salary and optional locality pay from counties, with a cap of 10% of the state annual salary. Judges who do not opt into the new system will continue to receive compensation as they did before July 1, 2025. The bill abolishes most county salary supplements for judges, though chief judges may continue to receive local supplements, and counties can still provide fringe benefits. The bill also suspends local laws that automatically adjust other government officials' salaries based on judicial salaries, preventing automatic increases and potential financial hardship for local governments. The state annual salary for superior court judges will be set by the General Assembly but cannot exceed 90% of the base salary for federal district court judges in the Northern District of Georgia. The legislation aims to create a more standardized and flexible compensation system for superior court judges while protecting existing judicial compensation arrangements and preventing unintended financial impacts on local governments.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Effective Date 2025-07-01 (on 05/12/2025)

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