Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5060 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R5620 BCH-D
2	2	By: Leach H.B. No. 5060
3	3
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the operation and administration of and practices and
10	10	procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state
11	11	government.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	ARTICLE 1. DISTRICT COURTS
14	14	SECTION 1.001. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government
15	15	Code, is amended by adding Sections 24.60035 and 24.60036 to read as
16	16	follows:
17	17	Sec. 24.60035. 490TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BRAZORIA COUNTY).
18	18	The 490th Judicial District is composed of Brazoria County.
19	19	Sec. 24.60036. 491ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BRAZORIA COUNTY).
20	20	The 491st Judicial District is composed of Brazoria County.
21	21	(b) The 490th Judicial District is created on September 1,
22	22	2025.
23	23	(c) The 491st Judicial District is created on September 1,
24	24	2026.
25	25	SECTION 1.002. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government
26	26	Code, is amended by adding Sections 24.60046 and 24.60047 to read as
27	27	follows:
28	28	Sec. 24.60046. 501ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT (FORT BEND COUNTY).
29	29	The 501st Judicial District is composed of Fort Bend County.
30	30	Sec. 24.60047. 502ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT (FORT BEND COUNTY).
31	31	The 502nd Judicial District is composed of Fort Bend County.
32	32	(b) The 501st and 502nd Judicial Districts are created on
33	33	September 1, 2025.
34	34	SECTION 1.003. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government
35	35	Code, is amended by adding Section 24.60048 to read as follows:
36	36	Sec. 24.60048. 503RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (ROCKWALL COUNTY).
37	37	The 503rd Judicial District is composed of Rockwall County.
38	38	(b) The 503rd Judicial District is created on September 1,
39	39	2025.
40	40	SECTION 1.004. (a) Subchapter C, Chapter 24, Government
41	41	Code, is amended by adding Section 24.60049 to read as follows:
42	42	Sec. 24.60049. 504TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (ELLIS COUNTY). The
43	43	504th Judicial District is composed of Ellis County.
44	44	(b) The 504th Judicial District is created on September 1,
45	45	2025.
46	46	ARTICLE 2. STATUTORY COUNTY COURTS
47	47	SECTION 2.001. (a) Section 25.0092, Government Code, is
48	48	amended by amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsection
49	49	(c-1) to read as follows:
50	50	(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
51	51	25.0003 and other law, and except as limited by Subsection (b), a
52	52	county court at law in Atascosa County has concurrent jurisdiction
53	53	with the district court in:
54	54	(1) Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases;
55	55	(2) family law matters;
56	56	(3) juvenile matters;
57	57	(4) probate matters; [and]
58	58	(5) appeals from the justice and municipal courts; and
59	59	(6) civil cases in which the matter in controversy
60	60	exceeds the maximum amount provided by Section 25.0003 but does not
61	61	exceed $1 million, excluding interest, statutory or punitive
62	62	damages and penalties, and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on
63	63	the face of the petition, including:
64	64	(A) a suit to decide the issue of title to real or
65	65	personal property;
66	66	(B) a suit for the enforcement of a lien on real
67	67	property;
68	68	(C) a suit for the trial of the right to property
69	69	valued at $500 or more that has been levied on under a writ of
70	70	execution, sequestration, or attachment; and
71	71	(D) a suit for the recovery of real property.
72	72	(c-1) In addition to other assignments provided by law, a
73	73	judge of the county court at law in Atascosa County is subject to
74	74	assignment under Chapter 74 to any district court in Atascosa
75	75	County. A county court at law judge assigned to a district court
76	76	may hear any matter pending in the district court.
77	77	(d) The judge of a county court at law shall be paid as
78	78	provided by Section 25.0005 [a total annual salary set by the
79	79	commissioners court at an amount that is not less than $1,000 less
80	80	than the total annual salary received by a district judge in the
81	81	county. A district judge's or statutory county court judge's total
82	82	annual salary does not include contributions and supplements paid
83	83	by a county].
84	84	(b) Section 25.0092(a), Government Code, as amended by this
85	85	section, applies only to a case filed or proceeding commenced on or
86	86	after the effective date of this Act. A case filed or proceeding
87	87	commenced before that date is governed by the law in effect on the
88	88	date the case was filed or the proceeding was commenced, and the
89	89	former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
90	90	SECTION 2.002. (a) Section 25.0212, Government Code, is
91	91	amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (f) and adding
92	92	Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows:
93	93	(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
94	94	25.0003 and other law and except as limited by Subsection (b), a
95	95	county court at law in Bowie County has, concurrent with the
96	96	district court, the jurisdiction provided by the constitution and
97	97	by general law for district courts, including concurrent
98	98	jurisdiction in:
99	99	(1) specialty court programs;
100	100	(2) misdemeanor cases;
101	101	(3) family law cases and proceedings, including
102	102	juvenile matters; and
103	103	(4) probate and guardianship matters.
104	104	(b) A county court at law does not have jurisdiction of:
105	105	(1) felony criminal matters;
106	106	(2) suits on behalf of the state to recover penalties
107	107	or escheated property;
108	108	(3) misdemeanors involving official misconduct;
109	109	(4) contested elections; or
110	110	(5) civil cases in which the matter in controversy
111	111	exceeds the amount provided in Section 25.0003 [$200,000],
112	112	excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties,
113	113	and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the
114	114	petition.
115	115	(f) The [commissioners court may authorize the judge of a
116	116	county court at law to set the] official court reporter of a county
117	117	court at law is entitled to compensation, fees, and allowances in
118	118	amounts equal to the amounts paid to the official court reporters
119	119	serving the district courts in Bowie County, including an annual
120	120	salary set by the judge of the county court at law and approved by
121	121	the commissioners court [reporter's salary].
122	122	(i) The jury in all civil or criminal matters is composed of
123	123	12 members, except in misdemeanor criminal cases and any other case
124	124	in which the court has concurrent jurisdiction with county courts
125	125	under Section 25.0003(a), the jury is composed of six members.
126	126	(j) In matters of concurrent jurisdiction, a judge of a
127	127	county court at law and a judge of a district court with
128	128	jurisdiction in Bowie County may transfer cases between the courts
129	129	in the same manner that judges of district courts may transfer cases
130	130	under Section 24.003.
131	131	(b) Section 25.0212(d), Government Code, is repealed.
132	132	SECTION 2.003. (a) Section 25.1102(a), Government Code, is
133	133	amended to read as follows:
134	134	(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
135	135	25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Hidalgo County has
136	136	concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in:
137	137	(1) family law cases and proceedings; [and]
138	138	(2) civil cases; and
139	139	(3) criminal cases for an offense punishable as a
140	140	state jail felony [in which the matter in controversy does not
141	141	exceed $750,000, excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages
142	142	and penalties, and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the page
143	143	of the petition].
144	144	(b) Section 25.1102(a), Government Code, as amended by this
145	145	section, applies only to an action filed in a county court at law in
146	146	Hidalgo County on or after the effective date of this Act. An
147	147	action filed in a county court at law in Hidalgo County before the
148	148	effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
149	149	date the action was filed, and the former law is continued in effect
150	150	for that purpose.
151	151	SECTION 2.004. Section 25.1902(b-1), Government Code, is
152	152	amended to read as follows:
153	153	(b-1) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by
154	154	Subsections (a) and (b), the county courts at law in [County Court
155	155	at Law No. 1 of] Potter County have [has] concurrent jurisdiction
156	156	with the district court in felony cases to conduct arraignments,
157	157	conduct pretrial hearings, and accept pleas in uncontested matters.
158	158	SECTION 2.005. (a) Section 25.1723(c), Government Code, is
159	159	repealed.
160	160	(b) Section 25.1723(c), Government Code, as repealed by
161	161	this section, applies only to an action filed on or after the
162	162	effective date of this Act. An action filed before the effective
163	163	date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before
164	164	that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
165	165	ARTICLE 3. VISITING JUDGES
166	166	SECTION 3.001. Sections 25.0022(d), (h), (k), (o), (t),
167	167	(u), and (w), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
168	168	(d) The presiding judge shall:
169	169	(1) ensure the promulgation of local rules of
170	170	administration in accordance with policies and guidelines set by
171	171	the supreme court;
172	172	(2) advise local statutory probate court judges on
173	173	case flow management practices and auxiliary court services;
174	174	(3) perform a duty of a local administrative statutory
175	175	probate court judge if the local administrative judge does not
176	176	perform that duty;
177	177	(4) appoint an assistant presiding judge of the
178	178	statutory probate courts;
179	179	(5) call and preside over annual meetings of the
180	180	judges of the statutory probate courts at a time and place in the
181	181	state as designated by the presiding judge;
182	182	(6) call and convene other meetings of the judges of
183	183	the statutory probate courts as considered necessary by the
184	184	presiding judge to promote the orderly and efficient administration
185	185	of justice in the statutory probate courts;
186	186	(7) study available statistics reflecting the
187	187	condition of the dockets of the probate courts in the state to
188	188	determine the need for the assignment of judges under this section;
189	189	(8) compare local rules of court to achieve uniformity
190	190	of rules to the extent practical and consistent with local
191	191	conditions;
192	192	(9) assign or order the clerk who serves the statutory
193	193	probate courts to randomly assign a judge or former or retired judge
194	194	of a statutory probate court or a former or retired justice of an
195	195	appellate court to hear a case under Section 25.002201(a) or
196	196	25.00255, as applicable; and
197	197	(10) require the local administrative judge for
198	198	statutory probate courts in a county to ensure that all statutory
199	199	probate courts in the county comply with Chapter 37.
200	200	(h) Subject to Section 25.002201, a judge or a former or
201	201	retired judge of a statutory probate court or a former or retired
202	202	justice of an appellate court may be assigned by the presiding judge
203	203	of the statutory probate courts to hold court in a statutory probate
204	204	court, a county court, or any statutory court exercising probate
205	205	jurisdiction when:
206	206	(1) a statutory probate judge requests assignment of
207	207	another judge to the judge's court;
208	208	(2) a statutory probate judge is absent, disabled, or
209	209	disqualified for any reason;
210	210	(3) a statutory probate judge is present or is trying
211	211	cases as authorized by the constitution and laws of this state and
212	212	the condition of the court's docket makes it necessary to appoint an
213	213	additional judge;
214	214	(4) the office of a statutory probate judge is vacant;
215	215	(5) the presiding judge of an administrative judicial
216	216	district requests the assignment of a statutory probate judge to
217	217	hear a probate matter in a county court or statutory county court;
218	218	(6) the statutory probate judge is recused or
219	219	disqualified as described by Section 25.002201(a);
220	220	(7) a county court judge requests the assignment of a
221	221	statutory probate judge to hear a probate matter in the county
222	222	court; or
223	223	(8) a local administrative statutory probate court
224	224	judge requests the assignment of a statutory probate judge to hear a
225	225	matter in a statutory probate court.
226	226	(k) The daily compensation of a former or retired judge or
227	227	justice for purposes of this section is set at an amount equal to
228	228	the daily compensation of a judge of a statutory probate court in
229	229	the county in which the former or retired judge or justice is
230	230	assigned. A former or retired judge or justice assigned to a county
231	231	that does not have a statutory probate court shall be paid an amount
232	232	equal to the daily compensation of a judge of a statutory probate
233	233	court in the county where the assigned judge or justice was last
234	234	elected.
235	235	(o) The county in which the assigned judge served shall pay
236	236	out of the general fund of the county:
237	237	(1) expenses certified under Subsection (m) to the
238	238	assigned judge; and
239	239	(2) the salary certified under Subsection (m) to the
240	240	county in which the assigned judge serves, or, if the assigned judge
241	241	is a former or retired judge or justice, to the assigned judge.
242	242	(t) To be eligible for assignment under this section, a
243	243	former or retired judge of a statutory probate court or a former or
244	244	retired justice of an appellate court must:
245	245	(1) not have been removed from office;
246	246	(2) certify under oath to the presiding judge, on a
247	247	form prescribed by the state board of regional judges, that:
248	248	(A) the judge or justice has not been publicly
249	249	reprimanded or censured by the State Commission on Judicial
250	250	Conduct; and
251	251	(B) the judge or justice:
252	252	(i) did not resign or retire from office
253	253	after the State Commission on Judicial Conduct notified the judge
254	254	or justice of the commencement of a full investigation into an
255	255	allegation or appearance of misconduct or disability of the judge
256	256	or justice as provided in Section 33.022 and before the final
257	257	disposition of that investigation; or
258	258	(ii) if the judge or justice did resign from
259	259	office under circumstances described by Subparagraph (i), was not
260	260	publicly reprimanded or censured as a result of the investigation;
261	261	(3) annually demonstrate that the judge or justice has
262	262	completed in the past state fiscal year the educational
263	263	requirements for an active statutory probate court judge;
264	264	(4) have served as an active judge or justice for at
265	265	least 72 months in a district, statutory probate, statutory county,
266	266	or appellate court; and
267	267	(5) have developed substantial experience in the
268	268	judge's or justice's area of specialty.
269	269	(u) In addition to the eligibility requirements under
270	270	Subsection (t), to be eligible for assignment under this section in
271	271	the judge's or justice's county of residence, a former or retired
272	272	judge of a statutory probate court or a former or retired justice of
273	273	an appellate court must certify to the presiding judge a
274	274	willingness not to:
275	275	(1) appear and plead as an attorney in any court in the
276	276	judge's county of residence for a period of two years; and
277	277	(2) accept appointment as a guardian ad litem,
278	278	guardian of the estate of an incapacitated person, or guardian of
279	279	the person of an incapacitated person in any court in the judge's or
280	280	justice's county of residence for a period of two years.
281	281	(w) A former or retired judge or justice who is assigned
282	282	under this section is not an employee of the county in which the
283	283	assigned court is located.
284	284	SECTION 3.002. Section 25.002201, Government Code, is
285	285	amended to read as follows:
286	286	Sec. 25.002201. ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGE ON RECUSAL OR
287	287	DISQUALIFICATION. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), not
288	288	later than the 15th day after the date an order of recusal or
289	289	disqualification of a statutory probate court judge is issued in a
290	290	case, the presiding judge shall assign a statutory probate court
291	291	judge or a former or retired judge of a statutory probate court or a
292	292	former or retired justice of an appellate court to hear the case if:
293	293	(1) the judge of the statutory probate court recused
294	294	himself or herself under Section 25.00255(g)(1)(A);
295	295	(2) the judge of the statutory probate court
296	296	disqualified himself or herself under Section 25.00255(g-1);
297	297	(3) the order was issued under Section
298	298	25.00255(i-3)(1); or
299	299	(4) the presiding judge receives notice and a request
300	300	for assignment from the clerk of the statutory probate court under
301	301	Section 25.00255(l).
302	302	(b) If the judge who is the subject of an order of recusal or
303	303	disqualification is the presiding judge of the statutory probate
304	304	courts, the chief justice of the supreme court shall assign a
305	305	statutory probate judge, [or] a former or retired judge of a
306	306	statutory probate court, or a former or retired justice of an
307	307	appellate court to hear the case.
308	308	SECTION 3.003. Section 25.00255(a), Government Code, is
309	309	amended to read as follows:
310	310	(a) Notwithstanding any conflicting provision in the Texas
311	311	Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 18a and 18b, Texas Rules of Civil
312	312	Procedure, apply to the recusal and disqualification of a statutory
313	313	probate court judge except as otherwise provided by this section or
314	314	another provision of this subchapter. The presiding judge:
315	315	(1) has the authority and shall perform the functions
316	316	and duties of the presiding judge of the administrative judicial
317	317	region under the rules, including the duty to hear or rule on a
318	318	referred motion of recusal or disqualification or, subject to
319	319	Subdivisions (2) and (3), assign a judge to hear and rule on a
320	320	referred motion of recusal or disqualification;
321	321	(2) may assign a presiding judge of the administrative
322	322	judicial region to hear and rule on a referred motion of recusal or
323	323	disqualification only with the consent of the presiding judge of
324	324	the administrative judicial region;
325	325	(3) may not assign a judge of a statutory probate court
326	326	located in the same county as the statutory probate court served by
327	327	the judge who is the subject of the motion of recusal or
328	328	disqualification; and
329	329	(4) if the presiding judge is the subject of the motion
330	330	of recusal or disqualification, shall sign and file with the clerk
331	331	an order referring the motion to the chief justice of the supreme
332	332	court for assignment of a presiding judge of an administrative
333	333	judicial region, a statutory probate court judge, [or] a former or
334	334	retired judge of a statutory probate court, or a former or retired
335	335	justice of an appellate court to hear and rule on the motion,
336	336	subject to Subdivisions (2) and (3).
337	337	ARTICLE 4. CRIMINAL LAW MAGISTRATES
338	338	SECTION 4.001. Chapter 54, Government Code, is amended by
339	339	adding Subchapter EE to read as follows:
340	340	SUBCHAPTER EE. BELL COUNTY CRIMINAL MAGISTRATES
341	341	Sec. 54.1601. APPOINTMENT. (a) The Commissioners Court of
342	342	Bell County may select magistrates to serve the courts of Bell
343	343	County having jurisdiction in criminal matters.
344	344	(b) The commissioners court shall establish the minimum
345	345	qualifications, salary, benefits, and other compensation of each
346	346	magistrate position and shall determine whether the position is
347	347	full-time or part-time. The qualifications must require the
348	348	magistrate to:
349	349	(1) have served as a justice of the peace or municipal
350	350	court judge; or
351	351	(2) be an attorney licensed in this state.
352	352	(c) A magistrate appointed under this section serves at the
353	353	pleasure of the commissioners court.
354	354	Sec. 54.1602. JURISDICTION. A magistrate has concurrent
355	355	criminal jurisdiction with the judges of the justice of the peace
356	356	courts of Bell County.
357	357	Sec. 54.1603. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The Commissioners
358	358	Court of Bell County shall establish the powers and duties of a
359	359	magistrate appointed under this subchapter. Except as otherwise
360	360	provided by the commissioners court, a magistrate has the powers of
361	361	a magistrate under the Code of Criminal Procedure and other laws of
362	362	this state and may administer an oath for any purpose.
363	363	(b) A magistrate shall give preference to performing the
364	364	duties of a magistrate under Article 15.17, Code of Criminal
365	365	Procedure.
366	366	(c) The commissioners court may designate one or more
367	367	magistrates to hold regular hearings to:
368	368	(1) give admonishments;
369	369	(2) set and review bail and conditions of release;
370	370	(3) appoint legal counsel; and
371	371	(4) determine other routine matters relating to
372	372	preindictment or pending cases within those courts' jurisdiction.
373	373	(d) In the hearings provided under Subsection (c), a
374	374	magistrate shall give preference to the case of an individual held
375	375	in county jail.
376	376	(e) A magistrate may inquire into a defendant's intended
377	377	plea to the charge and set the case for an appropriate hearing
378	378	before a judge or master.
379	379	Sec. 54.1604. JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. A magistrate has the same
380	380	judicial immunity as a district judge.
381	381	Sec. 54.1605. WITNESSES. (a) A witness who is sworn and
382	382	who appears before a magistrate is subject to the penalties for
383	383	perjury and aggravated perjury provided by law.
384	384	(b) A referring court may fine or imprison a witness or
385	385	other court participant for failure to appear after being summoned,
386	386	refusal to answer questions, or other acts of direct contempt
387	387	before a magistrate.
388	388	SECTION 4.002. Article 2A.151, Code of Criminal Procedure,
389	389	is amended to read as follows:
390	390	Art. 2A.151. TYPES OF MAGISTRATES. The following officers
391	391	are magistrates for purposes of this code:
392	392	(1) a justice of the supreme court;
393	393	(2) a judge of the court of criminal appeals;
394	394	(3) a justice of the courts of appeals;
395	395	(4) a judge of a district court;
396	396	(5) an associate judge appointed by:
397	397	(A) a judge of a district court or a statutory
398	398	county court that gives preference to criminal cases in Jefferson
399	399	County;
400	400	(B) a judge of a district court or a statutory
401	401	county court of Brazos County, Nueces County, or Williamson County;
402	402	or
403	403	(C) a judge of a district court under Chapter
404	404	54A, Government Code;
405	405	(6) a criminal magistrate appointed by:
406	406	(A) the Bell County Commissioners Court;
407	407	(B) the Brazoria County Commissioners Court; or
408	408	(C) [(B)] the Burnet County Commissioners Court;
409	409	(7) a criminal law hearing officer for:
410	410	(A) Harris County appointed under Subchapter L,
411	411	Chapter 54, Government Code; or
412	412	(B) Cameron County appointed under Subchapter
413	413	BB, Chapter 54, Government Code;
414	414	(8) a magistrate appointed:
415	415	(A) by a judge of a district court of Bexar
416	416	County, Dallas County, or Tarrant County that gives preference to
417	417	criminal cases;
418	418	(B) by a judge of a criminal district court of
419	419	Dallas County or Tarrant County;
420	420	(C) by a judge of a district court or statutory
421	421	county court of Denton or Grayson County;
422	422	(D) by a judge of a district court or statutory
423	423	county court that gives preference to criminal cases in Travis
424	424	County;
425	425	(E) [(D)] by the El Paso Council of Judges;
426	426	(F) [(E)] by the Fort Bend County Commissioners
427	427	Court;
428	428	(G) [(F)] by the Collin County Commissioners
429	429	Court; or
430	430	(H) [(G)] under Subchapter JJ, Chapter 54,
431	431	Government Code;
432	432	(9) a magistrate or associate judge appointed by a
433	433	judge of a district court of Lubbock County, Nolan County, or Webb
434	434	County;
435	435	(10) a county judge;
436	436	(11) a judge of:
437	437	(A) a statutory county court;
438	438	(B) a county criminal court; or
439	439	(C) a statutory probate court;
440	440	(12) an associate judge appointed by a judge of a
441	441	statutory probate court under Chapter 54A, Government Code;
442	442	(13) a justice of the peace; and
443	443	(14) a mayor or recorder of a municipality or a judge
444	444	of a municipal court.
445	445	ARTICLE 5. BUSINESS COURT
446	446	SECTION 5.001. Section 659.012, Government Code, is amended
447	447	by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
448	448	(a-1) In addition to the annual base salary from the state
449	449	prescribed by Subsection (a), a judge of a division of the business
450	450	court is entitled to an annual salary supplement from the state in
451	451	an amount equal to the difference between the judge's annual base
452	452	salary from the state and the maximum combined base salary from all
453	453	state and county sources paid to a district judge under Subsection
454	454	(a).
455	455	ARTICLE 6. JURORS
456	456	SECTION 6.001. Article 19A.051(c), Code of Criminal
457	457	Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
458	458	(c) The judge shall test the qualifications for and
459	459	exemptions [excuses] from service as a grand juror and impanel the
460	460	completed grand jury as provided by this chapter.
461	461	SECTION 6.002. The heading to Subchapter C, Chapter 19A,
462	462	Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
463	463	SUBCHAPTER C. GRAND JUROR QUALIFICATIONS; EXEMPTIONS [EXCUSES]
464	464	FROM SERVICE
465	465	SECTION 6.003. Article 19A.101, Code of Criminal Procedure,
466	466	is amended to read as follows:
467	467	Art. 19A.101. GRAND JUROR QUALIFICATIONS; LISTS OF
468	468	DISQUALIFIED PERSONS. (a) A person may be selected or serve as a
469	469	grand juror only if the person:
470	470	(1) is at least 18 years of age;
471	471	(2) is a citizen of the United States;
472	472	(3) is a resident of this state and of the county in
473	473	which the person is to serve;
474	474	(4) is qualified under the constitution and other laws
475	475	to vote in the county in which the grand jury is sitting, regardless
476	476	of whether the person is registered to vote;
477	477	(5) is of sound mind and good moral character;
478	478	(6) is able to read and write;
479	479	(7) has never been convicted of misdemeanor theft [or
480	480	a felony];
481	481	(8) has never been convicted of a felony;
482	482	(9) is not under indictment or other legal accusation
483	483	for misdemeanor theft or a felony;
484	484	(10) [(9)] is not related within the third degree by
485	485	consanguinity or second degree by affinity, as determined under
486	486	Chapter 573, Government Code, to any person selected to serve or
487	487	serving on the same grand jury;
488	488	(11) [(10)] has not served as a grand juror in the year
489	489	before the date on which the term of court for which the person has
490	490	been selected as a grand juror begins; and
491	491	(12) [(11)] is not a complainant in any matter to be
492	492	heard by the grand jury during the term of court for which the
493	493	person has been selected as a grand juror.
494	494	(b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk of the
495	495	district court shall prepare:
496	496	(1) a list of persons who in the preceding month were
497	497	disqualified from serving as a grand juror based on the person's
498	498	citizenship [or indictment or conviction for misdemeanor theft or a
499	499	felony] and send a copy of the list to:
500	500	(A) [(1)] the secretary of state;
501	501	(B) the voter registrar for the county in which
502	502	the grand jury is sitting; and
503	503	(C) [(2)] the prosecuting attorney for the court
504	504	to which the grand jurors were summoned for investigation into
505	505	whether any person made a false claim concerning the person's
506	506	qualification under Subsection (a)(2);
507	507	(2) a list of persons who in the preceding month were
508	508	disqualified from serving as a grand juror based on the person's
509	509	residency and send a copy of the list to:
510	510	(A) the secretary of state; and
511	511	(B) the voter registrar for the county in which
512	512	the grand jury is sitting; and
513	513	(3) a list of persons who in the preceding month were
514	514	disqualified from serving as a grand juror based on the person's
515	515	indictment for misdemeanor theft or a felony and send a copy of the
516	516	list to:
517	517	(A) the secretary of state;
518	518	(B) the voter registrar for the county in which
519	519	the grand jury is sitting; and
520	520	(C) the prosecuting attorney for the court to
521	521	which the grand jurors were summoned for investigation into whether
522	522	any person made a false claim concerning the person's qualification
523	523	under Subsection (a)(9) [, (7), or (8)].
524	524	SECTION 6.004. Article 19A.105, Code of Criminal Procedure,
525	525	is amended to read as follows:
526	526	Art. 19A.105. EXCUSE AND EXEMPTION [EXCUSES] FROM GRAND
527	527	JURY SERVICE. (a) The court shall excuse from serving any
528	528	summoned person who does not possess the requisite qualifications
529	529	or who claims an exemption to which the person is entitled.
530	530	(b) The following qualified persons may be exempted
531	531	[excused] from grand jury service:
532	532	(1) a person who is 75 years of age or older [than 70
533	533	years of age];
534	534	(2) a person responsible for the care of a child who is
535	535	younger than 18 years of age and who will be without adequate
536	536	supervision if the person serves on the grand jury;
537	537	(3) a student of a public or private secondary school;
538	538	(4) a person enrolled in and in actual attendance at an
539	539	institution of higher education; and
540	540	(5) any other person the court determines has a
541	541	reasonable excuse from service.
542	542	SECTION 6.005. Subchapter C, Chapter 19A, Code of Criminal
543	543	Procedure, is amended by adding Articles 19A.106 and 19A.107 to
544	544	read as follows:
545	545	Art. 19A.106. PERMANENT EXEMPTION FOR ELDERLY. (a) A
546	546	person who is entitled to exemption from grand jury service because
547	547	the person is 75 years of age or older may establish a permanent
548	548	exemption on that ground as provided by this article.
549	549	(b) A person may claim a permanent exemption by filing with
550	550	the district clerk or the clerk of a district court in the county,
551	551	through an electronic transmission, mail, or personal delivery, a
552	552	signed statement affirming the person is 75 years of age or older
553	553	and desires a permanent exemption on that ground.
554	554	(c) The district clerk shall maintain a current register of
555	555	the name of each person who resides in the county and who has
556	556	claimed and is entitled to a permanent exemption from grand jury
557	557	service because the person is 75 years of age or older.
558	558	(d) On the third business day of each month, the district
559	559	clerk shall prepare a list of persons who in the preceding month
560	560	were permanently exempted from serving as a grand juror under this
561	561	article and send a copy of the list to the secretary of state and the
562	562	voter registrar of each county served by the clerk.
563	563	(e) A person whose name appears on the register of persons
564	564	permanently exempted from serving as a grand juror under this
565	565	article may not be selected or summoned for grand jury service by
566	566	any district judge in the county.
567	567	(f) A person who has claimed a permanent exemption from jury
568	568	service under this article may rescind the exemption at any time by
569	569	filing a signed request for the rescission with the district clerk
570	570	or the clerk of a district court in the county. Rescission of a
571	571	permanent exemption does not affect the right of a person who is 75
572	572	years of age or older to claim a permanent exemption at a later
573	573	time.
574	574	Art. 19A.107. LIST OF DISQUALIFIED CONVICTED PERSONS. (a)
575	575	The district clerk shall maintain a list of the name and address of
576	576	each person who is disqualified under this subchapter from grand
577	577	jury service because the person was convicted of misdemeanor theft
578	578	or a felony.
579	579	(b) A person who was convicted of misdemeanor theft or a
580	580	felony is permanently disqualified from serving as a juror.
581	581	(c) A person whose name appears on the list maintained under
582	582	this article may not be selected or summoned for grand jury service
583	583	by any judge of a district court served by the clerk.
584	584	(d) On the third business day of each month, the district
585	585	clerk shall send a copy of the list maintained under this article
586	586	to:
587	587	(1) the secretary of state;
588	588	(2) the voter registrar for the county in which the
589	589	grand jury is sitting; and
590	590	(3) the prosecuting attorney for the court to which
591	591	the grand jurors were summoned for investigation into whether any
592	592	person made a false claim concerning the person's qualification
593	593	under Article 19A.101(a)(7) or (8).
594	594	SECTION 6.006. Sections 62.001(a) and (b), Government Code,
595	595	are amended to read as follows:
596	596	(a) The jury wheel must be reconstituted by using, as the
597	597	source:
598	598	(1) the names of all persons on the current voter
599	599	registration lists from all the precincts in the county; and
600	600	(2) all names on a current list to be furnished by the
601	601	Department of Public Safety, showing the citizens of the county
602	602	who:
603	603	(A) hold a valid Texas driver's license or a
604	604	valid personal identification card or certificate issued by the
605	605	department; and
606	606	(B) are not disqualified from jury service under
607	607	Section 62.102(1), (2), (3), (7), or (8).
608	608	(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the names of persons
609	609	listed on a register of persons exempt from jury service may not be
610	610	placed in the jury wheel, as provided by Sections 62.108 and[,]
611	611	62.109 [, 62.113, 62.114, and 62.115].
612	612	SECTION 6.007. Section 62.0132(g), Government Code, is
613	613	amended to read as follows:
614	614	(g) The information contained in a completed questionnaire
615	615	may be disclosed to:
616	616	(1) a judge assigned to hear a cause of action in which
617	617	the respondent to the questionnaire is a potential juror;
618	618	(2) court personnel;
619	619	(3) a litigant and a litigant's attorney in a cause of
620	620	action in which the respondent to the questionnaire is a potential
621	621	juror; and
622	622	(4) other than information provided that is related to
623	623	Section 62.102(2), (3), (7), (8), or (9) [62.102(8) or (9)], the
624	624	voter registrar of a county in connection with any matter of voter
625	625	registration or the administration of elections.
626	626	SECTION 6.008. Section 62.102, Government Code, is amended
627	627	to read as follows:
628	628	Sec. 62.102. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR JURY SERVICE. A
629	629	person is disqualified to serve as a petit juror unless the person:
630	630	(1) is at least 18 years of age;
631	631	(2) is a citizen of the United States;
632	632	(3) is a resident of this state and of the county in
633	633	which the person is to serve as a juror;
634	634	(4) is qualified under the constitution and laws to
635	635	vote in the county in which the person is to serve as a juror;
636	636	(5) is of sound mind and good moral character;
637	637	(6) is able to read and write;
638	638	(7) [has not served as a petit juror for six days
639	639	during the preceding three months in the county court or during the
640	640	preceding six months in the district court;
641	641	[(8)] has not been convicted of misdemeanor theft [or
642	642	a felony];
643	643	(8) has not been convicted of a felony; [and]
644	644	(9) is not under indictment or other legal accusation
645	645	for misdemeanor theft or a felony; and
646	646	(10) has not served as a petit juror for six days
647	647	during the preceding three months in the county court or during the
648	648	preceding six months in the district court.
649	649	SECTION 6.009. Section 62.106(a), Government Code, is
650	650	amended to read as follows:
651	651	(a) A person qualified to serve as a petit juror may
652	652	establish an exemption from jury service if the person:
653	653	(1) is [over] 75 years of age or older;
654	654	(2) has legal custody of a child younger than 12 years
655	655	of age and the person's service on the jury requires leaving the
656	656	child without adequate supervision;
657	657	(3) is a student of a public or private secondary
658	658	school;
659	659	(4) is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an
660	660	institution of higher education;
661	661	(5) is an officer or an employee of the senate, the
662	662	house of representatives, or any department, commission, board,
663	663	office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state
664	664	government;
665	665	(6) is summoned for service in a county with a
666	666	population of at least 200,000, unless that county uses a jury plan
667	667	under Section 62.011 and the period authorized under Section
668	668	62.011(b)(5) exceeds two years, and the person has served as a petit
669	669	juror in the county during the 24-month period preceding the date
670	670	the person is to appear for jury service;
671	671	(7) is the primary caretaker of a person who is unable
672	672	to care for himself or herself;
673	673	(8) except as provided by Subsection (b), is summoned
674	674	for service in a county with a population of at least 250,000 and
675	675	the person has served as a petit juror in the county during the
676	676	three-year period preceding the date the person is to appear for
677	677	jury service; or
678	678	(9) is a member of the United States military forces
679	679	serving on active duty and deployed to a location away from the
680	680	person's home station and out of the person's county of residence.
681	681	SECTION 6.010. Section 62.107(c), Government Code, is
682	682	amended to read as follows:
683	683	(c) A person who files a statement with a clerk of the court,
684	684	as provided by Subsection (a), claiming an exemption because the
685	685	person is [over] 75 years of age or older, may also claim the
686	686	permanent exemption on that ground authorized by Section 62.108 by
687	687	including in the statement filed with the clerk a declaration that
688	688	the person desires the permanent exemption. The [Promptly after a
689	689	statement claiming a permanent exemption on the basis of age is
690	690	filed, the] clerk of the court with whom the declaration [it] is
691	691	filed shall notify [have a copy delivered to] the voter registrar of
692	692	the county.
693	693	SECTION 6.011. Section 62.108, Government Code, is amended
694	694	by amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (e) and adding
695	695	Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
696	696	(a) A person who is entitled to exemption from jury service
697	697	because the person is [over] 75 years of age or older may establish
698	698	a permanent exemption on that ground as provided by this section or
699	699	Section 62.107.
700	700	(b) A person may claim a permanent exemption:
701	701	(1) by filing with the district clerk [voter
702	702	registrar] of the county, by mail or personal delivery, a signed
703	703	statement affirming that the person is [over] 75 years of age or
704	704	older and desires a permanent exemption on that ground; or
705	705	(2) in the manner provided by Section 62.107(c).
706	706	(c) The district clerk [voter registrar] of the county shall
707	707	maintain a current register indicating the name of each person who
708	708	has claimed and is entitled to a permanent exemption from jury
709	709	service because the person is [over] 75 years of age or older.
710	710	(c-1) On the third business day of each month, the district
711	711	clerk shall prepare a list of persons who in the preceding month
712	712	claimed and were entitled to a permanent exemption under this
713	713	section and send a copy of the list to the secretary of state and the
714	714	voter registrar of each county served by the clerk.
715	715	(e) A person who has claimed a permanent exemption from jury
716	716	service because the person is [over] 75 years of age or older may
717	717	rescind the exemption at any time by filing a signed request for the
718	718	rescission with the voter registrar of the county. Rescission of a
719	719	permanent exemption does not affect the right of a person who is
720	720	[over] 75 years of age or older to claim permanent exemption at a
721	721	later time.
722	722	SECTION 6.012. Section 62.109, Government Code, is amended
723	723	by amending Subsections (a), (b), (d), and (e) and adding
724	724	Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
725	725	(a) The judge of a district court or the district clerk [by
726	726	order] may permanently or for a specified period exempt from
727	727	service as a juror in all the county and district courts in the
728	728	county a person with a physical or mental impairment or with an
729	729	inability to comprehend or communicate in the English language that
730	730	makes it impossible or very difficult for the person to serve on a
731	731	jury.
732	732	(b) A person requesting an exemption under this section must
733	733	submit to the court or the district clerk an affidavit stating the
734	734	person's name and address and the reason for and the duration of the
735	735	requested exemption. A person requesting an exemption due to a
736	736	physical or mental impairment must attach to the affidavit a
737	737	statement from a physician. The affidavit and physician's
738	738	statement may be submitted to the court at the time the person is
739	739	summoned for jury service or at any other time.
740	740	(b-1) The district clerk shall maintain a current list
741	741	indicating the name of each person permanently or temporarily
742	742	exempt under this section and the period of the exemption.
743	743	(d) A person included on the list maintained under
744	744	Subsection (b-1) [listed on the register] may not be summoned for
745	745	jury service during the period for which the person is exempt. The
746	746	name of a person included on the list maintained under Subsection
747	747	(b-1) [listed on the register] may not be placed in the jury wheel
748	748	or otherwise used in preparing the record of names from which a jury
749	749	list is selected during the period for which the person is exempt.
750	750	(e) A person exempt from jury service under this section may
751	751	rescind the exemption at any time by filing a signed request for the
752	752	rescission with the district clerk [voter registrar] of the county.
753	753	SECTION 6.013. Sections 62.113(a) and (b), Government Code,
754	754	are amended to read as follows:
755	755	(a) The clerk of the court shall maintain a list of the name
756	756	and address of each person who is [excused or] disqualified under
757	757	this subchapter from jury service because the person is not a
758	758	citizen of the United States.
759	759	(b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall
760	760	send a copy of the list of persons [excused or] disqualified because
761	761	of citizenship in the previous month to:
762	762	(1) the voter registrar of the county;
763	763	(2) the secretary of state; and
764	764	(3) the county or district attorney for an
765	765	investigation of whether the person committed an offense under
766	766	Section 13.007, Election Code, or other law.
767	767	SECTION 6.014. Sections 62.114(a) and (b), Government Code,
768	768	are amended to read as follows:
769	769	(a) The clerk of the court shall maintain a list containing
770	770	the name and address of each person who is [excused or] disqualified
771	771	under this subchapter from jury service because the person is not a
772	772	resident of the county.
773	773	(b) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall
774	774	send a copy of the list of persons [excused or] disqualified in the
775	775	previous month because the persons do not reside in the county to:
776	776	(1) the voter registrar of the county; and
777	777	(2) the secretary of state.
778	778	SECTION 6.015. Sections 62.115(c) and (d), Government Code,
779	779	are amended to read as follows:
780	780	(c) The district clerk shall [may] remove from the jury
781	781	wheel the jury wheel card for the person whose name appears on the
782	782	list.
783	783	(d) On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall
784	784	send [to the secretary of state] a copy of the list of persons
785	785	disqualified because of a conviction of misdemeanor theft or a
786	786	felony to:
787	787	(1) the secretary of state;
788	788	(2) the voter registrar of the county; and
789	789	(3) the prosecuting attorney for a court to which a
790	790	person was summoned for investigation into whether the person made
791	791	a false claim of qualification under Section 62.102(7) or (8) [in
792	792	the preceding month].
793	793	SECTION 6.016. The changes in law made by this article apply
794	794	only to a person who is summoned to appear for service on a grand
795	795	jury or petit jury on or after the effective date of this Act. A
796	796	person who is summoned to appear for service on a grand jury or
797	797	petit jury before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
798	798	law in effect on the date the person was summoned, and the former
799	799	law is continued in effect for that purpose.
800	800	ARTICLE 7. COURT ADMINISTRATION
801	801	SECTION 7.001. Section 57.002(d), Government Code, is
802	802	amended to read as follows:
803	803	(d) Subject to Subsection (e), in a county with a population
804	804	of 50,000 or more, a court may appoint a spoken language interpreter
805	805	who is not a certified or licensed court interpreter:
806	806	(1) if:
807	807	(A) [(1)] the language necessary in the
808	808	proceeding is a language other than Spanish; and
809	809	(B) [(2)] the court makes a finding that there is
810	810	no licensed court interpreter within 75 miles who can interpret in
811	811	the language that is necessary in a proceeding; or
812	812	(2) if the court is a justice court, municipal court,
813	813	or municipal court of record.
814	814	SECTION 7.002. Section 74.092(a), Government Code, is
815	815	amended to read as follows:
816	816	(a) A local administrative judge, for the courts for which
817	817	the judge serves as local administrative judge, shall:
818	818	(1) implement and execute the local rules of
819	819	administration, including the assignment, docketing, transfer, and
820	820	hearing of cases;
821	821	(2) appoint any special or standing committees
822	822	necessary or desirable for court management and administration;
823	823	(3) promulgate local rules of administration if the
824	824	other judges do not act by a majority vote;
825	825	(4) recommend to the regional presiding judge any
826	826	needs for assignment from outside the county to dispose of court
827	827	caseloads;
828	828	(5) supervise the expeditious movement of court
829	829	caseloads, subject to local, regional, and state rules of
830	830	administration;
831	831	(6) provide the supreme court and the office of court
832	832	administration requested statistical and management information;
833	833	(7) set the hours and places for holding court in the
834	834	county;
835	835	(8) supervise the employment and performance of
836	836	nonjudicial personnel;
837	837	(9) supervise the budget and fiscal matters of the
838	838	local courts, subject to local rules of administration;
839	839	(10) coordinate and cooperate with any other local
840	840	administrative judge in the district in the assignment of cases in
841	841	the courts' concurrent jurisdiction for the efficient operation of
842	842	the court system and the effective administration of justice;
843	843	(11) if requested by the courts the judge serves,
844	844	establish and maintain the lists required by Section 37.003 and
845	845	ensure appointments are made from the lists in accordance with
846	846	Section 37.004;
847	847	(12) perform other duties as may be directed by the
848	848	chief justice or a regional presiding judge; and
849	849	(13) establish a court security committee to adopt
850	850	security policies and procedures for the courts served by the local
851	851	administrative district judge that is composed of:
852	852	(A) the local administrative district judge, or
853	853	the judge's designee, who serves as presiding officer of the
854	854	committee;
855	855	(B) a representative of the sheriff's office;
856	856	(C) a representative of each constable's office
857	857	in the county;
858	858	(D) a representative of the county commissioners
859	859	court;
860	860	(E) [(D)] one judge of each type of court in the
861	861	county other than a municipal court or a municipal court of record;
862	862	(F) a justice of the peace who serves the county;
863	863	(G) [(E)] a representative of any county
864	864	attorney's office, district attorney's office, or criminal district
865	865	attorney's office that serves in the applicable courts; and
866	866	(H) [(F)] any other person the committee
867	867	determines necessary to assist the committee.
868	868	SECTION 7.003. Section 74.092(b), Government Code, is
869	869	redesignated as Section 74.0922, Government Code, and amended to
870	870	read as follows:
871	871	Sec. 74.0922. DUTIES OF COURT SECURITY COMMITTEE. [(b)] A
872	872	court security committee established under Section 74.092(a)(13)
873	873	shall meet at least once annually to develop and submit
874	874	recommendations [may recommend] to the county commissioners court
875	875	on the uses of resources and expenditures of money for courthouse
876	876	security, including recommendations on the allocation of any county
877	877	court security budget, but may not direct the assignment of those
878	878	resources or the expenditure of those funds.
879	879	ARTICLE 8. MISCELLANEOUS COURT PROVISIONS
880	880	SECTION 8.001. Section 615.003(a), Local Government Code,
881	881	is amended to read as follows:
882	882	(a) A county with a population of 40,000 [150,000] or more
883	883	may construct, enlarge, equip, and operate a parking lot or parking
884	884	garage adjacent to or near the county courthouse.
885	885	ARTICLE 9. CONFLICT; EFFECTIVE DATE
886	886	SECTION 9.001. To the extent of any conflict, this Act
887	887	prevails over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session,
888	888	2025, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in
889	889	enacted codes.
890	890	SECTION 9.002. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.