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HB35 • 2025

Courts; private attorney appointed to act as district attorney pro tempore; revise compensation

Courts; private attorney appointed to act as district attorney pro tempore; revise compensation

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Ridley, Jordan
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
House Committee Favorably Reported
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The specific dollar amount for the pay cap is not provided in the source material, only that a cap exists.

HB35: Changing Pay for Temporary District Attorneys

This bill changes the rules about how much private lawyers get paid when they are hired to act as a district attorney temporarily.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets the pay rate at $250.00 per hour for each certified hour worked by these temporary attorneys, subject to a cap.
  • Requires the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of the State of Georgia to certify how many hours were actually worked before payment is made.
  • Allows these private attorneys to hire and pay their own help, such as other lawyers (private counsel), paralegals, or legal interns.
  • Includes a rule that adjusts the hourly rate for inflation over time.
  • Removes any older laws that conflict with these new rules.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Private attorneys appointed to act as district attorney pro tempore (temporarily).
  • The Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of the State of Georgia, which must verify work hours.
  • Paralegals and legal interns hired by these temporary attorneys.

Terms To Know

District Attorney pro tempore
A private lawyer appointed to act as the chief prosecutor for a short time when the regular district attorney is absent or disqualified.
Certified hours
Work hours that have been officially checked and approved by the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council before payment happens.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill mentions a cap on total pay, but it does not state what that maximum dollar amount is.
  • The text says there will be inflation adjustments, but it does not explain the specific formula used to calculate them.
  • The official effective date for when these rules start has not been listed in the provided information.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 Georgia General Assembly

    House Committee Favorably Reported

Official Summary Text

Courts; private attorney appointed to act as district attorney pro tempore; revise compensation