Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB802

Voted on by Senate
 
Out of House Committee
 
Voted on by House
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to the annual base salary of a district judge.

Impact

The impact of SB802 is expected to be considerable for state laws regarding judicial salaries and overall judiciary funding. By setting a higher baseline salary, the bill may enhance the appeal of judicial positions and, by extension, the quality of judiciary decisions. The bill includes provisions to ensure that district judges' salaries are competitive with higher court judges, which could lead to a more standardized judicial pay structure across Texas.

Summary

SB802 is a legislative bill introduced by Senator Hughes that seeks to amend the annual base salary for district judges in Texas. This bill proposes an increase in the minimum state salary for a district judge from $140,000 to $172,494. The change is significant as the base salary for district judges has not seen a raise since 2013. The legislation aims to align compensation more closely with the federal benchmarks to attract and retain qualified individuals in judicial positions.

Sentiment

Sentiment around the bill appears to lean toward positive bipartisan support, as indicated by comments from committee discussions. Senators acknowledged the importance of raising the judicial salary and noted the disparate pay compared to federal judges. However, the bill may encounter scrutiny regarding the funding necessary to implement such increases, raising questions about budgetary impacts and overall judicial funding in future legislative sessions.

Contention

While there is broad support for the increase in judges' salaries, potential contention points may arise around the source of the funding needed to support this legislative change. Concerns about fiscal implications may be raised by legislative bodies focused on balancing the state budget, particularly in times of economic uncertainty. The amendment to the Texas Government Code further establishes a precedent for adjusting the compensation frameworks of state officials, which may spark broader conversations about public sector pay.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Government Code

  • Chapter 659. Compensation
    • Section: 012

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HB1876

Relating to the annual base salaries of state judges and justices.

TX HB1880

Relating to the annual base salary from the state of a district judge.

TX HB438

Relating to the annual base salary from the state of a district judge.

TX HB2322

Relating to the annual base salary from the state of a district judge.

TX HB437

Relating to the annual base salaries of state judges and justices and the abolishment of the Judicial Compensation Commission.

TX HB1222

Relating to the annual salaries of the chief justice or the presiding judge of an appellate court.

TX SB1938

Relating to the method of calculating the salary of state judges.

TX HB3971

Relating to the method used to calculate the salary of a state judge.

TX HB4080

Relating to the compensation of a district judge and the associated retirement benefits of certain other elected state officials.

TX SB717

Relating to the additional compensation certain counties pay to judges and justices for extrajudicial services.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.