House Bill 304 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bryan BrinyarkRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Relating to the Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund; expenditure of monies from the fund, creation of additional advanced technology and data exchange funds

Summary

HB304 would let Alabama's courts use the Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund for general court operations and create dedicated tech/data funds for the Supreme Court and two appellate courts.

What This Bill Does

Currently, the Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund is limited to specific justice-administration tasks. HB304 would authorize the Administrative Office of Courts to spend fund money for the general operation of the courts. It would create three new funds for the Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals to manage technology and data exchange, with rules for how they are run. The funds could be used for electronic filing, data sharing, records storage, training, and other technology upgrades, and the bill allows credit/debit card payments for court costs with related fees.

Who It Affects

• Administrative Office of Courts and the state’s Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals – gain authority to spend on general court operations and to manage dedicated Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Funds.
• Court users and the public (including litigants, attorneys, and businesses) – may pay court costs with credit/debit cards and benefit from improved electronic filing, data sharing, and access to records, though they could encounter new processing fees or surcharges.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 12-19-290 to authorize expenditures from the Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund for general court operations and creates four dedicated funds: Administrative Office of Courts Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund, Supreme Court Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund, Court of Civil Appeals Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund, and Court of Criminal Appeals Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund.
• Lists allowed uses for the funds, including data sharing, electronic filing equipment, records storage, case disposition accountability, staff training, education materials, and other technology improvements to support administration of justice.
• Authorizes clerks to accept credit/debit card payments for court costs, fines, and related items, and allows surcharges or convenience fees tied to card payments to cover processing costs and contractual charges; ratifies pre-2014 surcharges.
• Authorizes contracting with credit card issuers to manage payment methods (including handling outdated cards) and directs where related fees are deposited (state vs municipal funds).
• Requires Administrative Office of Courts to promulgate Rules of Judicial Administration to implement the act; allows end-of-year carryover of unexpended funds within each fund; requires budgeting under the Budget Management Act and legislative appropriation.
• Effective date set for June 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Courts & Judges