Texas 2011 82nd Regular

Texas House Bill HJR61 House Committee Report / Fiscal Note

Filed 02/01/2025

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                    LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD    Austin, Texas      FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION            April 11, 2011      TO: Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence      FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board     IN RE:HJR61 by Raymond (proposing a constitutional amendment changing the terms of office of a district judge.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted    No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $105,495.  The joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment of Section 7, Article V, Texas Constitution, to increase the terms of district judges from four years to six years.  The bill would provide that district judges appointed to fill a vacancy be elected to a full term, rather than the unexpired term, at the next general election. A temporary provision is also included which clarifies the application of the proposed amendment to a district judge whose term began prior to the effective date.  According to the Secretary of State, the bill would result in a loss of revenue to the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2016 for that years primary season due to less filing fees (144 races x 1.5 candidates x $2,500 filing fee in higher county population brackets + 73 races x 1.5 candidates x $1,500 filing fee in lower county population brackets = $704,520, where 1.5 represents the average number of candidates for a given primary). The resolution would be submitted to the voters on November 8, 2011. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.    Source Agencies:212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 307 Secretary of State   LBB Staff:  JOB, JT, ZS, TB, BTA    

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 11, 2011





  TO: Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence      FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board     IN RE:HJR61 by Raymond (proposing a constitutional amendment changing the terms of office of a district judge.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted  

TO: Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HJR61 by Raymond (proposing a constitutional amendment changing the terms of office of a district judge.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

 Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence 

 Honorable Jim Jackson, Chair, House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence 

 John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board

 John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board

HJR61 by Raymond (proposing a constitutional amendment changing the terms of office of a district judge.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

HJR61 by Raymond (proposing a constitutional amendment changing the terms of office of a district judge.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted



No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $105,495.

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $105,495.



The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $105,495.



The joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment of Section 7, Article V, Texas Constitution, to increase the terms of district judges from four years to six years.  The bill would provide that district judges appointed to fill a vacancy be elected to a full term, rather than the unexpired term, at the next general election. A temporary provision is also included which clarifies the application of the proposed amendment to a district judge whose term began prior to the effective date.  According to the Secretary of State, the bill would result in a loss of revenue to the General Revenue Fund in fiscal year 2016 for that years primary season due to less filing fees (144 races x 1.5 candidates x $2,500 filing fee in higher county population brackets + 73 races x 1.5 candidates x $1,500 filing fee in lower county population brackets = $704,520, where 1.5 represents the average number of candidates for a given primary). The resolution would be submitted to the voters on November 8, 2011.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies: 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 307 Secretary of State

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 307 Secretary of State

LBB Staff: JOB, JT, ZS, TB, BTA

 JOB, JT, ZS, TB, BTA