Budget committee advances bill to extend court surcharge authority to 2030

The Committee on General Government Budget on Wednesday voted to pass House Bill 2393 out of committee, extending the temporary authority that allows the Supreme Court to impose additional docket and filing surcharges to fund nonjudicial personnel through 2030.

Jesse Pringle, the Revisor, told the committee: "This hearing is going to be on House Bill 2,393. What this bill does, it amends multiple statutes on the allowance for the Supreme Court to impose an additional charge to fund the cost of non judicial personnel." Pringle said the authority first took effect in 2019 and the bill would extend the sunset from 2025 to 2030.

Why it matters: The surcharge authority affects many routine court fees, including docket fees, appeals, petitions for expungement, marriage licenses, certain criminal filings, petitions for modification of child custody, and juvenile proceedings. Because surcharge revenue is deposited into the State General Fund, continuing the authority preserves a…