House Bill No. 123, introduced by Representative Carlson, amends existing law regarding the deferral of court costs and fees associated with electronic filing requirements. The bill defines "court costs" to include various fees related to electronic filing, such as user fees and recording fees charged by clerks of court for civil and criminal pleadings. Additionally, it clarifies that governmental entities responsible for deferring these costs are no longer required to pay them within a 30-day period after a judgment becomes final. Instead, costs will only be payable once the judgment is definitive or nonappealable, and all issues in the judicial proceeding are resolved.

The bill also stipulates that when a judgment is rendered against a state or political subdivision, the costs will not be payable to the clerk of court until the aforementioned conditions are met. Furthermore, it mandates that any court costs due from opposing litigants must be withheld from settlement payments and forwarded to the clerk of court. This legislation aims to streamline the process of handling court costs associated with electronic filings while providing clarity on the responsibilities of governmental entities in these situations.

Statutes affected:
HB123 Original: 13:4521(B)