$CDB-CAPITAL PROJECTS-TECH

104th Regular Session Introduced by Chris Welch

House Bill 86 adjusts salaries for Georgia state officials, ensuring fair compensation with future cost-of-living increases, impacting judges, the Governor, and legislators.

Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 86 (HB 86) aims to amend Code Section 45-7-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The primary focus of this bill is to revise the annual salaries of certain state officials, including Justices of the Supreme Court, Judges of the Court of Appeals, and other judicial positions. The bill seeks to establish a more structured approach to calculating and setting these salaries, including provisions for cost-of-living adjustments.

Key Provisions

Salary Adjustments: The bill proposes specific annual salaries for various state officials, including:

Governor: $175,000
Lieutenant Governor: $54,920 (with a 14% reduction for the 2021 fiscal year)
Commissioner of Agriculture: $100,429
Attorney General: $114,633
Justices of the Supreme Court: $100,396
Judges of the Court of Appeals: $174,500
Superior Court Judges: $126,265
District Attorneys: $120,072
Members of the General Assembly: $16,200 (with a 10% reduction for the 2021 fiscal year)

Cost-of-Living Adjustments: The bill includes provisions for future cost-of-living adjustments to ensure that salaries remain competitive and reflective of economic conditions.

Reimbursement Policies: Members of the General Assembly may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred while performing their duties, with a cap of $7,000 per year for specific expenses such as lodging, meals, and transportation.

Effective Dates: The bill outlines effective dates for the salary adjustments and related provisions.

Affected Parties

The bill directly impacts:
- State officials, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and various judges and commissioners.
- Members of the General Assembly, who will see changes in their compensation structure.
- The judicial system in Georgia, as it revises how judicial salaries are determined.

Procedural Aspects

Current Status: As of April 25, 2025, the bill is in the conference committee stage, with meetings scheduled to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.

Timeline: The bill was introduced on January 16, 2025, and has undergone multiple readings and amendments in both the House and Senate. The final effective date is set for July 1, 2025.

Conclusion

House Bill 86 represents a significant legislative effort to standardize and adjust the salaries of key state officials in Georgia. By addressing compensation and cost-of-living adjustments, the bill aims to ensure that salaries are fair and reflective of the responsibilities held by these officials. The ongoing discussions in the conference committee will determine the final form of the bill before it is enacted.

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