HB374 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Matt SimpsonRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Baldwin Co., Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund, court costs collected for operation, further authorized, Sec. 45-2-80.87 am'd.
Summary: HB 374 adds up to a $15 extra court cost in Baldwin County to fund the County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund, with rules for collection, use, expiration, and potential future adjustment.
What This Bill Does
Imposes an additional court cost not to exceed $15 on each civil and criminal case filed in Baldwin County courts (circuit, district, and juvenile; excluding municipal courts). Collected fees go into the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund to pay salaries of court employees and support the operation of the county courts. The added costs expire on September 30, 2019 and the section would be repealed, unless adjusted or eliminated by the presiding circuit court judge based on state funding; the judge may increase or decrease the amount within the $15 cap as needed. The cost cannot be waived unless all other fees, assessments, costs, fines, and charges in the case are waived.

Who It Affects
Litigants and defendants in Baldwin County civil and criminal cases (including traffic and small claims) who would pay an additional up to $15 per case, unless other fees are waived.
County court operations and staff, whose salaries and operation funding would be supported by the new Fund; the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund would manage and distribute these funds.

Key Provisions
Adds up to $15 in additional court costs for each civil and criminal case in Baldwin County (excluding municipal courts).
Fees are to be deposited into the Baldwin County Law Library and Judicial Administration Fund to fund salaries of court employees and other lawful purposes of the fund.
The added costs expire September 30, 2019 and the section is repealed unless adjusted or eliminated based on state funding; the presiding circuit court judge may adjust or eliminate the costs accordingly.
The presiding circuit court judge may increase or decrease the costs within the $15 per case limit as deemed necessary.
Effective date is the first day of the third month after the bill’s passage and approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Baldwin County