Signed by Governor Brian Kemp

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes guidelines for the salaries and bonuses of Georgia superior court judges.

Highlights:

• Establishes guidelines for the salaries and bonuses of Georgia superior court judges and caps local supplements paid to most superior court judges at 10% of their state salary or $20,106 and amends provisions ensuring that no judge's salary would be reduced (Sec. 1-6). 

• Amends provisions regarding the compensation received by superior court judges; to provide procedures for superior court judges to opt to receive compensation (Sec. 1-6)

• Requires grandfathering of certain judges to not reduce their compensation paid (Sec. ).

• Authorizes locality pay by counties to superior court judges instead of county salary supplements and repeals most county salary supplements provided to superior court judges (Sec. 1-6).

• Authorizes the continuation of county salary supplements for chief judges (Sec. 1-6).

• 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 (Sec. 1-6).

• Requires that retirement benefits be relative to optional locality pay (Sec. 1-6).

• Amends 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, to revise provisions relating to calculating and setting the salaries of superior court judges (Sec. 1-6).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect beginning July 1, 2025 (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes guidelines for the salaries and bonuses of Georgia superior court judges.

Highlights:

• Establishes guidelines for the salaries and bonuses of Georgia superior court judges and caps local supplements paid to most superior court judges at 10% of their state salary or $20,106 and amends provisions ensuring that no judge's salary would be reduced (Sec. 1-6). 

• Amends provisions regarding the compensation received by superior court judges; to provide procedures for superior court judges to opt to receive compensation (Sec. 1-6)

• Requires grandfathering of certain judges to not reduce their compensation paid (Sec. ).

• Authorizes locality pay by counties to superior court judges instead of county salary supplements and repeals most county salary supplements provided to superior court judges (Sec. 1-6).

• Authorizes the continuation of county salary supplements for chief judges (Sec. 1-6).

• 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 (Sec. 1-6).

• Requires that retirement benefits be relative to optional locality pay (Sec. 1-6).

• Amends 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, to revise provisions relating to calculating and setting the salaries of superior court judges (Sec. 1-6).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect beginning July 1, 2025 (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text