Committee clears magistrate fees bill, postpones electronic‑filing sub for more edits

The Judiciary Committee moved a package of technical and administrative changes affecting magistrate and probate courts, approving a bill to clarify local authority for magistrate‑court fees (LC473834) and deferring final action on a separate electronic‑filing substitute (LC492500S) to allow drafting fixes.

Representative Leverett presented House Bill 999 (LC473834), which would enable magistrate courts—by local act—to assess and recover specified fees (including technology fees) and correct a repealer clause that inadvertently linked magistrate court nonpartisan status to a separate probate referendum. The committee voted to pass the magistrate-fee portion unanimously.

On a related measure that would require electronic filing in probate courts (substitute LC492500S), the sponsor explained the sub clarifies mandatory electronic filing once a uniform system is promulgated by the council of probate judges and creates accommodations for pro se litigants. Committee members proposed language to allow clerks to accept paper filings and convert them to electronic records (so people without computer access are not shut out). Members also discussed transition grace periods for attorneys and public terminals at courthouses.

Because several drafting refinements were needed, the committee agreed to take the electronic‑filing sub and reconvene with a corrected sub at a subsequent hearing (Thursday). The committee postponed final action to allow staff and legislators (including Senator Cowles) to review the updated language and to avoid on‑the‑fly edits.