Magistrate Court (17)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0146 SupportIssuance of Arrest and Search Warrants by Video Conference Weldon, Tom 3rd
7/1/2013 House - Effective Date JudyNC JUDYNC -
Correctional Institutions/Jail Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit Magistrate Court Public Safety and Courts
State Court Superior Court
This legislation allows a judge to participate in a hearing for an arrest or search warrant by video conference, regardless of the judge's location at the time of the conference.
HB 0349 NeutralAdult Criminal Justice Reform Clean Up Bill Golick, Rich 40th
7/1/2013 House - Effective Date JudyNC JUDYNC -
Clerk of Court Correctional Institutions/Jail Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit District Attorneys
Indigent Defense Juveniles Law Enforcement Magistrate Court Probate Court
Public Safety and Courts Sheriff Solicitors
This legislation creates the Council on Criminal Justice Reform to continue to assess the impact of the Criminal Justice Reform Act. This legislation also provides for judges to deviate from mandatory minimums by following a procedure as outlined in the legislation, and revises the process for removal of arrest records.
HB 0438 NeutralIncrease in Filing Fee on Court Cases to Fund Alternative Dispute Resolution Powell, Jay 171st
7/1/2014 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Civil Procedure Debra Nesbit Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Magistrate Court Probate Court
Public Safety and Courts State Court Superior Court

This legislation increases the maximum alternative dispute resolution fee that courts can charge from $7.50 to $10.00 per civil case filed in superior, state, magistrate or probate court.

HB 0736 OpposeProbate Courts - Expand Jurisdiction to Certain Misdemeanor Offenses Allen Peake
1/16/2014 House Second Readers JudyNC --
Code Enforcement Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit Magistrate Court Probate Court
Public Safety and Courts State Court Superior Court

This legislation expands probate courts' jurisdiction to include misdemeanors related to alcoholic beverages and under age persons; to livestock running at large, to criminal trespass; to littering, to illegal dumping, to shopfliting ($500 or less); to theft ($1,500 or less); to fourth degree forgery; to obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer, firefighter, EMT or other emergency medical professional; to obstructing or hindering a person making an emergency call; to giving false name or date of birth; to affray; to disorderly conduct; to harassing phone calls; to unlawful conduct during a 9-1-1 call; to public drunkenness; to possession of marijuana (one ounce or less); to possession or use of drug related objects; and to mandatory education for children between the ages of six and 16. The probate court would only have the ability to hear these cases if the defendant waives their right to a jury trial in writing.

HB 0831 NeutralNonpartisan Elections of Probate and Chief Magistrate Judges Wendell Willard
3/3/2014 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute GAff --
Elections General County Government Magistrate Court Probate Court Public Safety and Courts
Shaun Adams
This legislation would require all chief magistrate judges and all probate judges to run in nonpartisan elections.  Under current law, chief magistrate judges and probate judges only ran in nonpartisan elections if authorized by through local legislation.
HB 0837 NeutralClarification of Legislative Intent Regarding Misdemeanor Probation Services Mark Hamilton
4/29/2014 House Date Signed by Governor PS&HS JUDYNC -
Debra Nesbit Leg Update Draft Magistrate Court Probate Court Probation
Public Safety and Courts State Court Superior Court

This legislation clarifies the General Assembly's intent regarding the use and provision of probation services by courts for misdemeanor and ordinance violations. It clarifies the ability of judges to toll warrants of probationers who abscond during their probationary period without meeting the conditions of their sentence.

HB 0923 NeutralRevision of Office of Child Advocate Role and Responsibilities Christian Coomer
3/3/2014 Senate Read and Referred JuvJ H&HS -
Coroners/Medical Examiners Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit District Attorneys General County Government
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Health and Human Services Juveniles Law Enforcement Magistrate Court
Open Records/Meetings Act Public Safety and Courts Sheriff

This legislation makes changes to the duties of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Child Advocate for the Protection of Children, the Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel, county child abuse protocol committees, and county child fatality review committees. The legislation also changes the portions of child abuse and dependency records that may be redacted under the open records law.

HB 0938 NeutralGwinnett County; office of chief magistrate; provide nonpartisan elections Chuck Efstration
4/21/2014 House Date Signed by Governor IGC SLGO -
Elections General County Government Local Legislation Magistrate Court Public Safety and Courts
HB 0981 NeutralAppointment of Temporary Replacement Officers Mike Jacobs
2/17/2014 House Second Readers GAff --
Clerk of Court Coroners/Medical Examiners County Surveyor District Attorneys General County Government
Magistrate Court Personnel/Employment Probate Court Public Safety and Courts Shaun Adams
Sheriff Solicitors Tax Commissioner

This legislation allows a commissioner who is appointed as a temporary replacement for another elected official who is suspended by the Governor to appoint someone to represent his or her district.

HB 1000 SupportDebt Setoff Collection Against State Income Tax Refunds for Court Fines Owed to Counties Barry Fleming
1/1/2015 Effective Date GAff FIN -
Clint Mueller Debra Nesbit EMS/Ambulance General County Government Leg Update Draft
Magistrate Court Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance State Court Superior Court

This bill provides for debt set off collection against state income tax refunds for any and all court costs, surcharges, and fines for which there is an outstanding judgment. The debt set off process would be managed the Administrative Office of the courts who may contract with a local government clearinghouse operated by ACCG and GMA to interface with the Department of Revenue to intercept the state tax return.  

HB 1030 NeutralDodge County; chief magistrate; provide nonpartisan elections Jimmy Pruett
4/10/2014 House Date Signed by Governor IGC SLGO -
Elections General County Government Local Legislation Magistrate Court Public Safety and Courts
HB 1058 NeutralFulton County; provide for appointment of magistrates; repeal Act Wendell Willard
4/29/2014 House Date Signed by Governor IGC SLGO -
General County Government Local Legislation Magistrate Court Public Safety and Courts
SB 0290 NeutralDangerous Dog Law Revisions Dean Burke
7/1/2014 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Animal Control General County Government Leg Update Draft Magistrate Court Public Safety and Courts
State Court Superior Court Todd Edwards

This legislation makes several changes to the Responsible Dog Ownership Law. First, it allows county commissioners to appoint more than one individual as dog control officer. Second, in addition to animal control boards or boards of health conducting hearings to determine if a dog is dangerous or vicious, these hearings may also be held before the probate court. Third, it shortens the time period that a hearing can be requested by a dog owner and reduces the amount of time that a vicious or dangerous dog must be held if no owner can be found.

SB 0320 NeutralCreation of Veterans Court Divisions Ed Harbison
7/1/2014 Effective Date D&VA JUDYNC -
Clerk of Court Debra Nesbit District Attorneys Leg Update Draft Magistrate Court
Probate Court Public Safety and Courts Sheriff Solicitors State Court
Superior Court

This legislation allows for the creation of veterans court divisions dedicated to address the specialized treatment needs of veterans and to facilitate a veteran's re-entry into society.  The passage of this legislation will enable local jurisdictions to access federal grant funds for the operation of the veterans courts.

SB 0332 SupportIncrease Fine Amount for Contempt of Court in Magistrate Courts Jesse Stone
3/6/2014 House Committee Favorably Reported Judy JUDY -
Debra Nesbit Magistrate Court Public Safety and Courts

This legislation increases the fine for contempt of court in magistrate court from $200 to $500.

SB 0345 EvaluatingProvides for a Court Technology Fee to be Collected on Criminal and Civil Cases - Repeals Existing Court Technology Fees Jesse Stone
2/4/2014 Senate Read and Referred -JUDY -
Clerk of Court Code Enforcement Constables/Marshals Debra Nesbit District Attorneys
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons General County Government Indigent Defense Juveniles
Law Enforcement Local Legislation Magistrate Court Probate Court Public Safety and Courts
Revenue & Finance Sheriff Solicitors State Court Superior Court
Traffic Enforcement

This legislation creates a court technology fee to be assessed on criminal fines, ordinance violations and civil filings with the passage of a local resolution. The chief judge will control the fund and appoint members of the technology fund board. This legislation also repeals any local technology fee in place on July 1, 2014.

SR 0986 NeutralSenate Unified Courts Technology Study Committee Joshua McKoon
3/18/2014 Senate Passed/Adopted -S&T -
Clerk of Court Debra Nesbit District Attorneys Leg Update Draft Magistrate Court
Probate Court Public Safety and Courts Sheriff Solicitors State Court
Superior Court
This legislation creates the Senate Unified Courts Technology Study Committee, which will have seven members: four appointed by the President of the Senate, two appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Chair is the the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ironically there are no county representatives, despite the fact that all court technology is financed by local government.
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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