Georgia House takes a step toward boosting pay for the state's judges

The Georgia House of Representatives votes on a new state House district map, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

Lawmakers are taking the first step toward giving Georgia’s judges a big pay raise, while also seeking to reduce gaping pay disparities between superior court judges in different parts of the state.

The state House voted 154-13 on Thursday to pass House Bill 947, which would put into law guidelines for raising and standardizing pay. The bilel goes on to the Senate for more debate, and lawmakers would have to later budget the money for the increases.

The state would have to spend $21 million next year for all the increases, but House Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Hatchett, a Dublin Republican, recently told The Associated Press that he anticipates any increases would be phased in over multiple years.