Committee backs raising clerks’ technology fee to bolster court IT and remote access

Senate Judiciary Committee — Richmond — Senators approved a substitute to increase the technology trust fund fee on certain civil filings and recorded instruments from $5 to $10, with most of the new dollars directed to clerks to support modernizing and preserving land records and regional court information systems.

Senator Jones and supporters said the fee has not been increased since 2004 and that the additional funds would be used for secure remote access, records preservation and cybersecurity. "The fee hasn't been increased since 2004... the bill is just seeking to help reinforce cybersecurity compliance and reporting requirements," the patron said.

Brandy Singleton of the Office of the Executive Secretary explained existing allocations: currently clerks receive most of the $5 and OES receives $1; the substitute preserves that proportion, with the bulk going to clerks and a smaller share to OES for statewide systems. Committee members pressed for a clearer accounting of the Supreme Court technology fund balance and what projects the additional dollars would support.

A roll call was recorded on the motion to strike one related bill and to adopt the substitute and report the measure; the transcript shows a recorded tally for a related procedural step as Ayes 8, Noes 6, Abstention 1. The committee reported the substituted bill and referred it to finance for fiscal and implementation review.

Why it matters: Clerks and local court systems argue many offices lack funding to keep up with technology, secure records and provide consistent remote access; opponents argued members wanted assurance that existing fund balances would be audited before asking for more fees.

What’s next: Referred to the finance committee for fiscal analysis and to the Supreme Court/OES for details on system needs and fund balances.

Quote: "There's no estimate as to the total amount that would be raised... what we did was we kept the same proportions," said a representative for the petitioners on funding allocations.