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Texas Judiciary
Legislative Update
Texas Judicial Council
89th Legislature, 89(1) and 89(2)
Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Office of Court Administration
Post Office Box 12066 | Austin, Texas | 78711-2066
Phone: 512 463.1625
txcourts.gov
2
Texas Judicial Council
Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
From the Executive Director
The 89th Texas Legislature enacted a broad range of laws that will bring meaningful changes to the Texas
Judiciary. One notable change addresses the compensation of District Judges. Entering the 89th Legislative
Session, the base pay of a District Judge in Texas ranked 49th in the nation. With the legislature authorizing
a 25 percent increase to the base pay of a District Judge, Texas now ranks 34th, marking a significant step
forward in judicial compensation.
Over 2,100 bills affecting the judicial branch were filed during the session. The Office of Court Administration
analyzed and prepared more than 1,670 fiscal notes for the Legislative Budget Board. The Texas Judicial
Council, the policy making body for the Judiciary, achieved progress in multiple policy areas that were
recommended by Texas Judicial Council Resolutions. Key legislative changes include:
• Judicial Leadership: A law requiring a convening of Local Administrative District Judges as well as
compensation enhancements for their increasing responsibilities.
• Bail Reform and Public Safety: Updates to bail procedures including a constitutional amendment
to allow for preventative detention in specific cases. Additionally, enhancements to the Public Safety
Report System that will give judges more comprehensive information for bail decisions.
• Judicial Data: Funding for 11 Regional Data Coordinators to ensure the accurate and consistent
collection of judicial data across the state.
• Protection of Personal Information: A new law that prohibits the unauthorized release and public
posting of judges’ and court personnels’ personal information, establishing both civil and criminal
penalties for violations.
• Judicial Qualifications: Minimum qualifications for certain magistrates and associate judges have
been standardized and raised, focusing on an increased requirement for years of experience as a
licensed attorney.
• Mental Health: Selected recommendations from the Judicial Commission on Mental Health have been
adopted, including changes to emergency detention procedures.
This report offers an overview of new laws that directly impact the Texas Court System, judges, clerks, lawyers,
and other judicial personnel. While it does not provide detailed analysis of all substantive legal areas, we
hope it serves as a valuable resource for the judicial and legal communities and for anyone interested in the
effective administration of justice.
Megan LaVoie
Executive Director
Texas Judicial Council
Texas Judicial Council
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Funding the Judiciary
The Texas Judicial Branch courts and agencies collectively submitted a total biennial budget request of
$969.6 million. Exceptional Item requests totaled $241 million bringing the total request to $1.21 billion.
The Conference Committee Report for Senate Bill 1 (CCR SB1) approved by the 89th Legislature
appropriated a total of $1.07 billion, excluding benefits, to the Judicial Branch courts and agencies.
This funding level is approximately $102 million more or a 10.5% biennial increase from 2024-2025
appropriation levels. CCR SB1 provides a total of 1,713.3 FTEs, an increase of 53 FTEs from 2024-2025
levels. The entire budget for the third branch of government makes up 3.6% of the state budget of Texas.
FY 2026-2027 Total Funding - All Judiciary
Supreme Court
$106,510,898
Court of Criminal Appeals
$46,042,025
First Court of Appeals
$12,261,186
Second Court of Appeals
$9,910,652
Third Court of Appeals
$8,479,740
Fourth Court of Appeals
$10,501,792
Fifth Court of Appeals
$17,428,249
Sixth Court of Appeals
$4,288,802
Seventh Court of Appeals
$5,561,375
Eight Court of Appeals
$4,513,793
Ninth Court of Appeals
$5,810,382
Tenth Court of Appeals
$4,428,280
Eleventh Court of Appeals
$4,373,712
Twelfth Court of Appeals
$4,415,992
Thirteenth Court of Appeals
$8,499,201
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
$12,764,995
Fifteenth Court of Appeals
Office of Court Administration
$6,572,198
$372,267,267
State Prosecuting Attorney
$1,388,289
Office of Capital & Forensic Writs
$8,714,109
State Law Library
$3,140,175
State Commission on Judicial Conduct
$4,690,704
Comptroller Judiciary
Total
4
$409,351,849
$1,071,915,665
Texas Judicial Council
FY 2026-2027 Total Funding Appellate Courts
Supreme Court
$106,510,898
Court of Criminal Appeals
$46,042,025
First Court of Appeals
$12,261,186
Second Court of Appeals
$9,910,652
Third Court of Appeals
$8,479,740
Fourth Court of Appeals
$10,501,792
Fifth Court of Appeals
$17,428,249
Sixth Court of Appeals
$4,288,802
Seventh Court of Appeals
$5,561,375
Eight Court of Appeals
$4,513,793
Ninth Court of Appeals
$5,810,382
Tenth Court of Appeals
$4,428,280
Eleventh Court of Appeals
$4,373,712
Twelfth Court of Appeals
$4,415,992
Thirteenth Court of Appeals
$8,499,201
Fourteenth Court of Appeals
$12,764,995
Fifteenth Court of Appeals
$6,572,198
Total
$272,363,272
Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Funding the Judiciary Cont’d
Judicial Branch by Method of Finance
$1,071,915,665
General Revenue
Sexual Assault Acct No. 5010
Fair Defense Acct No. 5073
Electronic Filing Fee Acct No.
5157
Forensic Science Commission
Acct No. 5173
Assistant Prosecutor Support
Fund No. 303
Judicial and Court Personnel
Training Fund No. 540
Judicial Fund No. 0573
Jury Service Fund
Appropriated Receipts
Interagency Contracts
Interagency Contracts-CJG
Federal Funds
$-
$100M
$200M
$300M
$400M
$500M
$600M
Texas Judicial Council
$700M
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Funding the Judiciary Cont’d
Method of Finance
2026-2027
2024-2025
General Revenue
Sexual Assault Account No. 5010
Fair Defense Account No. 5073
Electronic Filing Fee Account No. 5157
Forensic Science Commission Acct No. 5173
Assistant Prosecutor Supp Fund No. 303
Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund
No. 540
Judicial Fund No. 0573
Jury Service Fund
Appropriated Receipts
Interagency Contracts
Interagency Contracts-CJG
Federal Funds
Total
$655,723,078
$10,000,000
$65,046,278
$103,808,503
$328,000
$6,540,420
$26,192,000
$588,758,193
$10,000,000
$81,397,812
$52,542,505
$661,001
$6,540,420
$30,356,000
Increase/
Decrease
$66,964,885
$$(16,351,534)
$51,265,998
$(333,001)
$$(4,164,000)
$147,724,207
$27,502,000
$896,651
$21,236,622
$3,041,084
$3,876,822
$1,071,915,665
$134,001,385
$38,125,182
$939,159
$19,127,282
$3,041,084
$4,217,716
$969,707,739
$13,722,822
$(10,623,182)
$(42,508)
$2,109,340
$$(340,894)
$102,207,926
FY 2026-2027 Objects of Expense All Judiciary
Salaries and Wages
$496,731,151
Other Personnel Costs
$15,247,722
Professional Fees
$5,184,003
Fuels & Lubricants
$74,500
Consumables
$588,774
Utilities
$730,690
Travel
$4,546,262
Rent-Building
$819,070
Rent-Machine
$247,114
Other Operating
$149,784,158
Expense
Grants
$394,527,088
Capital Expenditures
$3,435,133
Total
$1,071,915,665
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Texas Judicial Council
FY 2026-2027 Total Funding - Judicial Agencies excluding
the Appellate Courts
Office of Court Administration
$372,267,267
State Prosecuting Attorney
$1,388,289
Office of Capital & Forensic Writs
$8,714,109
State Law Library
$3,140,175
State Commission on Judicial Conduct
$4,690,704
Comptroller Judiciary
$409,351,849
Total
$799,552,393
Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Contents
Administration of the Courts.......................................................................................................................................8
Associate Judges and Magistrates...........................................................................................................................10
Bail.............................................................................................................................................................................................11
Civil Law and Procedure...............................................................................................................................................13
Clerks......................................................................................................................................................................................18
Commissions, Committees, Councils, and Task Forces................................................................................ 20
Costs, Fees, Fines, and Collections........................................................................................................................... 21
County Courts and District Courts........................................................................................................................ 23
Courthouse Security and Judicial Privacy......................................................................................................... 25
Criminal Law and Procedure......................................................................................................................................27
Elections and Lobbying................................................................................................................................................40
Emergency and Disaster Management and Response..................................................................................41
Expunctions and Nondisclosures........................................................................................................................... 42
Family Law........................................................................................................................................................................... 43
Government Entity or Political Subdivision..................................................................................................... 46
Guardianship and Mental Health........................................................................................................................... 48
Indigent Defense.............................................................................................................................................................. 49
Judicial Compensation.................................................................................................................................................50
Judicial Discipline............................................................................................................................................................ 52
Jurisdiction and Venue................................................................................................................................................. 54
Jury Service and Grand Jury Service.................................................................................................................... 56
Justice Courts and Municipal Courts.....................................................................................................................57
Juvenile Justice................................................................................................................................................................. 59
Magistrate Duties............................................................................................................................................................60
Office of Court Administration.................................................................................................................................61
Omnibus............................................................................................................................................................................... 64
Open Records and Open Meetings......................................................................................................................... 65
Other Laws and Regulations..................................................................................................................................... 66
Probate, Trusts, and Estates....................................................................................................................................... 67
Protective Orders............................................................................................................................................................. 68
Records..................................................................................................................................................................................70
Specialty Courts................................................................................................................................................................71
Vetoed Legislation........................................................................................................................................................... 72
Index of Bills....................................................................................................................................................................... 74
Texas Judicial Council
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Administration of the Courts
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Amends various compensation provisions applicable to assigned judges, including compensation
provisions for former or retired judges and justices serving on assignment and compensation provisions
for a former or retired judge or justice serving as judicial mentor. Authorizes the assignment of a former
or retired appellate justice to a statutory probate court. Allows the Supreme Court of Texas to provide,
rather than mail, a copy of rules or amendments to rules to members of the State Bar of Texas. Modifies
jurisdictional limits for statutory county courts, increasing the maximum amount in controversy for
civil cases to $325,000 and adjusting concurrent jurisdiction with district courts. Requires the Court of
Criminal Appeals to ensure judicial training includes elder abuse and neglect. Allows for judges to file
an exemption from certain training requirements after completing an affidavit stating they do not hear
cases involving certain family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of person, child abuse and neglect, or
elder abuse and neglect. Adds two more justices to the 15th Court of Appeals. Adjusts the geographic
jurisdiction of the Texas Business Court to move Bastrop County to the Third Business Court Division.
Ensures the Texas Supreme Court has full rulemaking power in civil actions by repealing all laws and
parts of laws governing practice and procedure in civil actions enacted before May 15, 1939. Repeals
various statutes in the Civil Practice and Remedies Code that provide that governing chapters cannot be
modified or repealed by a rule adopted by the Supreme Court. See also Omnibus.
HB 2637: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends practices, procedures, and terminology for summoning prospective grand jurors and petit
jurors and exemptions from jury service. Amends information a district court clerk must prepare and
submit every month to include additional jury disqualification details. Provides a permanent exemption
from jury service for people older than 75. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 19A; Gov’t Code ch. 62.
HB 3104: Effective 9/1/2025.
Relates to the appointment and compensation of bailiffs in certain district courts in Webb County. See
Gov’t Code § 53.001.
SB 664: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends various provisions of Ch. 54, Government Code, regarding the qualifications of masters,
magistrates, referees, associate judges, and hearing officers appointed under the chapter. Requires
a Chapter 54 judicial officer whose duties include bail decisions to comply with certain bail training
requirements. Authorizes the removal of Ch. 54 judicial officers under Section 24, Article V of the Texas
Constitution. Requires a local administrative judge to ensure a Ch. 54 judicial officer complies with certain
requirements. Requires the local administrative judge to report certain violations to the commissioners
court, the regional administrative presiding judge, the Office of Court Administration, and the State
Commission on Judicial Conduct. Requires a local administrative judge to supervise the performance of
Ch. 54 judicial officers. See Gov’t Code ch. 54, subch. A; Gov’t Code §§ 54A.003, 54A.103, 54A.305, 74.092.
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Administration of Courts Cont’d
SB 1574: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires the Texas Judicial Council to establish by rule a centers of excellence program to identify,
support, and recognize justices and judges who excel in serving their communities and representing the
judiciary. Specifies criteria the council must consider in awarding a center of excellence recognition. See
Gov’t Code § 71.040.
SB 2127: Effective 9/1/2025.
Reduces the minimum length of service for a former or retired judge’s eligibility for assignment to an
appellate court. Modifies certification requirements for such judges. Modifies related definitions and
lists of retired and former judges subject to assignment. See Gov’t Code §§ 74.003, 74.041, 74.055.
Texas Judicial Council
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Associate Judges and Magistrates
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies the requirements for appointment as criminal law magistrate in Bell County. Authorizes the
appointment of Criminal Associate Judges in Coke, Concho, Irion, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, and Tom
Green counties. See also Omnibus.
SB 664: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends various provisions of Ch. 54, Government Code, regarding the qualifications of masters,
magistrates, referees, associate judges, and hearing officers appointed under the chapter. Requires
a Chapter 54 judicial officer whose duties include bail decisions to comply with certain bail training
requirements. Authorizes the removal of Ch. 54 judicial officers under Section 24, Article V of the Texas
Constitution. Requires a local administrative judge to ensure a Ch. 54 judicial officer complies with certain
requirements. Requires the local administrative judge to report certain violations to the commissioners
court, the regional administrative presiding judge, the Office of Court Administration, and the State
Commission on Judicial Conduct. Requires a local administrative judge to supervise the performance of
Ch. 54 judicial officers. See Gov’t Code ch. 54, subch. A; Gov’t Code §§ 54A.003, 54A.103, 54A.305, 74.092.
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Texas Judicial Council
Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Bail
HB 2697: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires a surety to notify the defendant’s attorney of the surety’s intention to surrender the principal.
Requires a surety, in felony cases, to notify the prosecution of the surety’s intent to surrender a defendant
to the court before filing an affidavit, thus canceling the surety’s bond. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.19.
SB 9: Effective dates vary.
Requires Public Safety Report System (PSRS) to indicate whether a defendant is on community supervision,
parole, mandatory supervision, released on bail, or participating in certain pretrial intervention programs,
and provide certain warrant and protective order information. Permits a magistrate to order, prepare, or
consider a PSRS report in setting bail for certain defendants not in custody. Amends the release on bail
of defendants charged with a felony offense. Creates a review of bail process for certain bail decisions.
Requires the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to configure the PSRS to allow a county or municipality
to integrate a county’s jail record management system and case management system with the PSRS.
Authorizes OCA to provide grants for systems integration. Requires charitable bail organizations to
report certain information to OCA and requires OCA to report to the appropriate sheriff information
about suspected violations of Article 17.071. Requires a judge to make an affirmative finding in the
disposition of a criminal case involving any offense punishable as a Class B misdemeanor or higher if
the judge determines the defendant willfully failed to appear after the defendant was released from
custody. Permits the state to appeal a court order granting bail in an amount considered insufficient by
the prosecuting attorney for certain charged offenses. See Code Crim. Proc. chs. 16, 17, 27, 42, 44, 56A;
Gov’t Code § 72.038; Hum. Res. Code § 51A.003.
SB 40: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits a political subdivision from spending public funds to pay a nonprofit organization that accepts
and uses donations from the public to deposit money with a court in the amount of a defendant’s bail
bond. See Loc. Gov’t Code § 140.014.
SB 293: Effective dates vary.
Adds persistent or willful violation of the rules for setting bail under Article 17.15 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure and failure to meet deadlines, performance measures, or clearance rate requirements set by
statute, administrative rule or binding court order to the definition of willful or persistent misconduct
for the purposes of Section 1-a, Article V, Texas Constitution. Allows the State Commission on Judicial
Conduct (SCJC) to impose an administrative penalty for knowingly filing a false complaint. Requires SCJC
to conduct certain preliminary investigations and draft recommendations for commission action as soon
as practicable after a complaint has been filed. Shortens the timeframes for investigating and disposing
of complaints and allows SCJC to grant an additional extension for disposing of complaints under certain
circumstances. Sets a statute of limitations unless SCJC determines good cause exists for investigating
the complaint. Adds substance abuse as a cause of judicial incapacity. Revises the process for disposing
of complaints alleging judicial incapacity. Directs the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to establish a
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Bail Cont’d
judicial directory for use by SCJC to provide notices to judges. Requires the reporting of certain judicial
transparency information by district judges and requires OCA to provide administrative support for the
collection and dissemination of this information. Requires OCA to prepare and submit a report compiling
the information to certain offices. Increases the annual base salary of a district judge from $140,000 to
$175,000. Increase state salary supplements tied to the base pay of a district judge for a chief justice
or presiding judge of an appellate court, a business court judge who serves as administrative presiding
judge, and a local administrative district judge. Prohibits the state salary supplement of a chief justice
or presiding judge of an appellate court from counting toward the combined state and county pay.
Increases the supplement for local administrative judges based on number of counties served. Allows
business court judges to receive the maximum county supplement. Sets the standard service retirement
annuity for service credited in the elected class as the years of service, multiplied by 2.3 percent of
$175,000. Establishes certain limitations on the maximum annuity provided by the state. Amends how
retired judges that resume service as full-time judicial officers may rejoin the JRS 2 retirement plan. See
Gov’t Code ch. 33, subch. B; Gov’t Code ch. 72, subch. C; Gov’t Code §§ 665.052, 820.053, 834.102, 837.102,
837.103, 840.1025, 840.1027.
SJR 5: Election Date is 11/4/2025.
Amends Texas Constitution to: provide that a person accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony
must be denied bail pending trial if the attorney representing the state demonstrates by a preponderance
of the evidence after a hearing that the granting of bail is insufficient to reasonably (1) prevent the
person’s wilful nonappearance in court or (2), by clear and convincing evidence, ensure the safety of the
community, law enforcement, and the victim of the alleged offense; require a judge or magistrate who
grants a person bail under the section added by the amendment to (1) set bail and impose conditions
of release necessary only to reasonable (a) prevent the person’s willful nonappearance in court and (b)
ensure the safety of the community, law enforcement, and the victim of the alleged offense, and (2)
prepare a written order that includes certain findings and a statement explaining the justification for
the grant. Outlines what a magistrate must consider for determining whether a preponderance of the
evidence or clear and convincing evidence exists.
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Civil Law and Procedure
HB 7 (2nd Called Session): Effective 12/4/2025.
Creates various prohibitions on the manufacture and provision of certain abortion-inducing drugs,
subject to enforcement through a qui tam action brought under a subchapter created by the bill. Creates
counteraction protections arising from certain out-of-state judgments entered against individuals who
bring or assist in qui tam actions under the bill’s provisions. See Health & Safety Code ch. 171A.
HB 8 (2nd Called Session): Effective 12/4/2025.
Revises the state’s instructionally supportive assessment program. Clarifies an appeal mechanism
related to certain actions or decisions of the Texas Education Agency. See Educ. Code § 7.057(d).
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies jurisdictional limits for statutory county courts, increasing the maximum amount in controversy
for civil cases to $325,000 and adjusting concurrent jurisdiction with district courts. Modifies the hearing
timelines and reporting requirements for a motion for summary judgement. See also Omnibus.
HB 20 (2nd Called Session): Effective 12/4/2025.
Enhances criminal penalties related to disaster scams and creates criminal offenses related to the
malicious solicitation of disaster victims or for disaster response or relief. Creates civil liability for
malicious solicitation during a disaster. See Penal Code §§ 31.03, 32.61; Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 100D.
See also Criminal Law and Procedure.
HB 581: Effective 9/1/2025.
Adds certain AI-generated content to other content commercial entities operating websites may face civil
liability for if accessible by minors. Requires consent by a source image’s personal basis and establishes
an age limit of 18 for source images’ personal bases for production of certain AI-generated content.
See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 129B; Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 129B.001, 129B.002, 129B.003, 129B.0045,
129B.005, 129B.006.
HB 783: Effective 9/1/2025.
Adds a new chapter establishing liability for online impersonation, and related applicability, construction,
damages, injunctive relief and cause of action. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 98C.
HB 1130: Effective 5/29/2025.
Adds a new chapter establishing limited liability for recreation or educational cavern activities. See Civ.
Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 75C.
HB 2884: Effective 5/28/2025.
Requires disclosure in certain suits involving defense contractors of whether the claimant or their
attorney has received, directly or indirectly, funding or financial support from any individual, entity,
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Civil Law and Procedure Cont’d
or government affiliated with a sanctioned or embargoed nation, as well as the identity of all funding
sources or financial support. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 28.
HB 2960: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires an action arising out of certain contracts, to the extent the venue provision in the contract is
void, to be brought only in Texas in the county in which the property subject to the suit is located, unless
the parties stipulate otherwise after the suit arises. See Bus. & Com. Code § 272.001; Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code
§ 15.020(d).
HB 3441: Effective 9/1/2025.
Imposes liability on any manufacturer that advertises a vaccine if that vaccine results in “harm or injury”
to an individual. See Health & Safety Code § 431.118.
HB 4081: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates a procedure for a party in litigation to seek the sealing of a document the party asserts contains
a trade secret owned by the party. Permits a party to seek to seal a document purported to contain a
trade secret held by a third party. Requires the party seeking to have the document sealed to serve
the document, notice, and affidavit on the other parties to the litigation and the third party, if any, who
is purported to own the trade secret. Provides that once the notice, affidavit, and document are filed,
the document is sealed. Provides that if no affidavit is timely filed, the document is deemed publicly
filed. Allows any person to intervene in the litigation to have a document sealed or unsealed. Provides
that, after a hearing, the court may seal or unseal any part of the document, redacting portions which
are found to be a trade secret. Provides that the order sealing or unsealing a purported trade secret
is severed from the rest of the case, a final order, and subject to appeal. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §
134A.0065.
HB 4157: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the definition of “space flight participant.” Amends requirements for certain space flight
agreements to be considered effective and enforceable. Provides that a reciprocal waiver of claims
between parties engaged in space flight activities under certain FAA regulations is effective and enforceable
in Texas, including a waiver by a contractor, subcontractor, or customer of any party participating in a
space flight activity. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 100A.001, 100A.003, 100A.005.
HB 4202: Effective 6/20/2025.
Amends grounds on which an officer may accept, by witness’s oath, evidence of the identity of an
acknowledging person. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 121.005(a).
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Civil Law and Procedure Cont’d
HB 4238: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits creditors and debt collectors, including third-party debt collectors, from attempting to collect a
consumer debt from a person who is a victim of identity theft, if the debt is a result of the identity theft.
Requires creditors and collectors to cease their collection efforts and to notify persons who received a
report related to the debt that the debt is disputed and not collectible from the victim. Provides a cause
of action against a person who disputes a consumer debt based on a material misrepresentation that
the person is a victim of identity theft. See Fin. Code § 392.308.
HB 4281: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits “fraudulent crowdfunding,” defined as collecting donations on behalf of a purported donee
with the intent to keep the donations instead of giving them to the donee. Makes a person who engages
in fraudulent crowdfunding liable to the donee and requires a court to award a claimant who prevails
125 percent of the amount of the collected donations. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 100B.
HB 4623: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates an additional remedy for those aggrieved by injuries to students at public schools and openenrollment charter schools. Provides that such a school is liable for an act or omission committed by a
professional school employee, as defined, against an enrolled student if that act or omission constitutes
one or more of several delineated offenses; or if the professional school employee commits any other
negligent, reckless, knowing, or intentional act that results in injury to or death of the student. Requires
the professional school employee to be named as a defendant. Disallows assertion of official immunity.
Waives governmental immunity to the extent otherwise applicable. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 118.
HB 4904: Effective 9/1/2025.
Limits liability of property owners on which motorcycle operation and safety instruction or an instructor
training course takes place, with certain exclusions. See Transp. Code § 662.014.
HB 4995: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides for the certification as a tactical medical professional of physicians and emergency medical
personnel who are licensed to carry handguns and are employed or appointed by a law enforcement
agency to provide medical services to victims, officers, and other persons in direct support to a tactical
unit responding to a high-risk incident. Requires the director of the Department of Public Safety and
the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to develop minimum standards for initial and continuing
education in handgun instruction for tactical medical professionals to obtain and maintain certification.
Immunizes governmental units from civil liability arising from the discharge of a handgun by tactical
medical professionals. Provides tactical medical professionals a defense to prosecution for offenses
relating to possession of weapons and for trespass with a concealed or openly carried handgun, if they
are discharging their duties while carrying a handgun. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 112.001; Gov’t Code ch.
411; Penal Code §§ 30.06, 30.07, 46.15.
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Civil Law and Procedure Cont’d
HB 5624: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides limited liability to owners, operators, employees, and volunteers of motorized off-road vehicle
areas for damages incurred by participants in off-roading activities at the facility, if there is a sign
posted giving notice of the limitation on liability. Provides certain exclusions to limited liability. Makes
the doctrine of attractive nuisance inapplicable to claims arising from damages incurred at an off-road
vehicle area. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 75E.
SB 8 (2nd Called Session): Effective 9/22/2025
Establishes framework for the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex. Makes
a political subdivision or state agency that violates the chapter created by the bill liable for a civil penalty.
Creates a cause of action for a person affected by a political subdivision’s or state agency’s violation of
the chapter created by the bill. Provides that a state court lacks jurisdiction to consider certain relief that
would declare the new chapter invalid or unconstitutional or otherwise restrain enforcement of the new
chapter. See Gov’t Code ch. 3002. See also Criminal Law and Procedure.
SB 17: Effective 9/1/2025.
Adds a new subchapter to Chapter 5, Property Code, related to the purchase or acquisition of real
property by certain foreign individuals or entities. Creates a state jail felony offense for the intentional
or knowing purchase or other acquisition of an interest in real property in violation of the subchapter
added by the bill. Creates a civil action for violations of the subchapter and authorizes the attorney
general to bring an action to collect the penalty. See Prop. Code ch. 5, subch. H.
SB 29: Effective 5/14/2025.
Amends various statutes related to the formation, internal affairs, and governance of domestic entities.
See Bus. Orgs. Code ch. 21.
SB 31: Effective 6/20/2025.
Provides that a civil action brought against a physician or health care provider for a violation of a provision
of certain chapters of the Health and Safety Code, subject to an exception provided by the chapter alleged
to have been violated or other law, is a health care liability claim and is subject to the same requirements
as any other health care liability claim. Conforms Texas abortion statutes to uniformly define the situation
of when a medical emergency occurs by maintaining and clarifying protections against threats to the
mother’s life and threats to her major bodily functions. Amends current law relating to exceptions to
otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician’s reasonable medical judgment. See Civ. Prac. & Rem.
Code § 74.551; Health & Safety Code chs. 170A, 171.
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SB 33: Effective 9/1/2025.
Empowers the Office of the Attorney General, state residents, or individuals within a political subdivision
to initiate legal action against any entity engaging in prohibited abortion transactions. See Gov’t Code §
2273.004.
SB 38: Effective dates vary.
Amends the Property Code to revise, remove, and repeal provisions regarding the eviction process in
Texas, in relation to jurisdiction and venue, computation of time, the authority to modify or suspend
eviction procedures, notice, and other various matters. Requires the Supreme Court to adopt certain
rules to clarify evictions procedures relating to eviction suits. See Prop. Code ch. 24.
SB 140: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides that statutes relating to telephone solicitations apply to a transmission of a text, graphic
message, or an image. Specifies that a claimant who prevails more than once in certain private causes
of action are not limited in recovery in future proceedings. Designates violations of statutes relating
to telephone solicitations and telemarketing as false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices under
the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act, subject to enforcement by public or private
remedies under that act. See Bus. & Com. Code §§ 302.001, 302.003, 304.005, 304.2581, 305.054, 305.055.
SB 1734: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands presumptions for court clerks regarding whether documents or instruments are fraudulent.
Adds new processes on action on fraudulent conveyance. Permits owners of real property to file an
affidavit regarding purported conveyance of title or interest. Permits purchasers of real property to rely
on certain court findings on purported conveyance of title or interest. See Gov’t Code §§ 51.901, 51.9035;
Prop. Code §§ 5.0206, 5.0207.
SB 2411: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends and adds several sections to the Business Organizations Code. Clarifies that any reference in
any section of code to jurisdiction of the district courts is not a deprivation of the jurisdiction vested in
the business courts over certain disputes. Requires that any entity claim be brought in a Texas court.
Clarifies a corporation’s rights with respect to certain written demands related to pending derivative
proceedings. Authorizes a for-profit corporation’s board of directors to allow the formation of committees
of independent and disinterested directors and allows interested parties to seek declaratory relief as to
whether the members of such a committee are, in fact, disinterested. See Bus. Orgs. Code, various chs.
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Clerks
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies jurisdictional limits for statutory county courts, increasing the maximum amount in controversy
for civil cases to $325,000 and adjusting concurrent jurisdiction with district courts. Modifies the hearing
timelines and reporting requirements for a motion for summary judgement. Modifies procedures and
practices of a district clerk for summoning jurors. See also Omnibus.
HB 1734: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends which documents a court clerk is directed to send to transfer a proceeding. See Fam. Code §
155.207.
SB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective 12/4/2025.
Creates criminal offenses relating to real property theft and real property fraud. Details what judgment
of conviction for real property theft or real property fraud must include and requires certain filings with
the county clerk related to the judgment. Requires court to enter certain restitution for real property
theft. Requires presentment of photo identification for filing of certain real property records. See Code
Crim. Proc. art. 12.01, ch. 5C, and art. 42.0376; Loc. Gov’t Code §§ 191.010; and Penal Code §§ 31.23,
32.60 See also Criminal Law and Procedure.
SB 647: Effective 9/1/2025.
Revises provisions on which actions court clerks must take upon belief that certain documents or
instruments are fraudulent. Outlines when a document or instrument is presumed to not be fraudulent.
Revises actions county clerk must take if clerk in good faith believes the document or instrument creating
a lien is fraudulent. Grants immunity from liability and suit to clerks who, in good faith, file or record or
refuse to file or record certain documents. See Gov’t Code § 51.901.
SB 1404: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires for certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship that a party provide an email address
to the court. Permits a court clerk to send orders, notices, and other documents relating to final orders
by e-mail. Amends the award of attorney’s fee or expenses for certain suits affecting the parent-child
relationship. See Fam. Code §§ 105.006, 106.002, 157.167.
SB 1547: Effective 6/20/2025.
Requires clerks to charge fees for electronic copies of real property records in accordance with
Government Code Sections 552.231 and 552.262, as opposed to the current charge of $0.10 per page.
See Loc. Gov’t Code § 118.011.
SB 1666: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires the Department of Criminal Justice to transfer to the clerk of the court that entered an order of
restitution a restitution payment derived from unclaimed property for which a claim was filed. Shortens
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the number of years after which restitution payments are considered abandoned. See Gov’t Code §§
493.035, 508.322.
SB 1667: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires defendants to submit an ex parte petition to obtain an expunction order upon successful
completion of a veterans treatment program or a mental health court program. Imposes limits on a
petition for an expunction. Requires district clerks to compile and maintain on their respective website
a list of agencies, along with the e-mail address of each agency, that must be included in the petition for
an expunction. Requires courts to wait a minimum of 30 days before setting a hearing for an expunction
petition. Repeals provisions requiring clerks to send a copy of the expunction petition and notice of
hearing to the Texas Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial Branch. Requires state agencies
to accept an electronic copy of the expunction petition and notice of hearing and prohibits clerks from
assessing a fee to send the documents electronically. Authorizes a fee to send the petition and notice of
hearing to an agency unable to receive an electronic copy of the documents. Authorizes the retention
of certain mental health information, even if that information is subject to an expunction order. Repeals
provisions requiring destruction of the expunction order itself by allowing clerks to keep the order but
limiting its release to the petitioner only. Repeals other fees and costs associated with an ex parte petition
for an expunction. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 55A.203, 55A.253, 55A.254, 55A.256, 55A.3025, 55A.351,
55A.356.
SB 1734: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands presumptions for court clerks regarding whether documents or instruments are fraudulent.
Adds new processes on action on fraudulent conveyance. Permits owners of real property to file an
affidavit regarding purported conveyance of title or interest. Permits purchasers of real property to rely
on certain court findings on purported conveyance of title or interest. See Gov’t Code §§ 51.901, 51.9035;
Prop. Code §§ 5.0206, 5.0207.
SB 1760: Effective 9/1/2025.
Revises procedures for transferring a guardianship from a court in one county to another. Creates a fee
for filing the case with the clerk of the court which receives a transferred case. Creates a receipt form.
Imposes certain duties upon guardians. Grants courts the power to order a guardian to spend money
from the ward’s estate for the education and maintenance of the ward’s minor children or incapacitated
adult children. Requires guardians of an estate to attach certain statements with annual accounts.
Revises certain provisions relating to the closing of the estate of the guardianship and the discharge of
the guardian. See Est. Code, various chs.
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Commissions, Committees, Councils, and Task Forces
SB 293: Effective dates vary.
Adds persistent or willful violation of the rules for setting bail under Article 17.15 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure and failure to meet deadlines, performance measures, or clearance rate requirements set by
statute, administrative rule or binding court order to the definition of willful or persistent misconduct
for the purposes of Section 1-a, Article V, Texas Constitution. Allows the State Commission on Judicial
Conduct (SCJC) to impose an administrative penalty for knowingly filing a false complaint. Requires SCJC
to conduct certain preliminary investigations and draft recommendations for commission action as soon
as practicable after a complaint has been filed. Shortens the timeframes for investigating and disposing
of complaints and allows SCJC to grant an additional extension for disposing of complaints under certain
circumstances. Sets a statute of limitations unless SCJC determines good cause exists for investigating
the complaint. Adds substance abuse as a cause of judicial incapacity. Revises the process for disposing
of complaints alleging judicial incapacity. Directs the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to establish a
judicial directory for use by SCJC to provide notices to judges. Requires the reporting of certain judicial
transparency information by district judges and requires OCA to provide administrative support for the
collection and dissemination of this information. Requires OCA to prepare and submit a report compiling
the information to certain offices. Increases the annual base salary of a district judge from $140,000 to
$175,000. Increase state salary supplements tied to the base pay of a district judge for a chief justice
or presiding judge of an appellate court, a business court judge who serves as administrative presiding
judge, and a local administrative district judge. Prohibits the state salary supplement of a chief justice
or presiding judge of an appellate court from counting toward the combined state and county pay.
Increases the supplement for local administrative judges based on number of counties served. Allows
business court judges to receive the maximum county supplement. Sets the standard service retirement
annuity for service credited in the elected class as the years of service, multiplied by 2.3 percent of
$175,000. Establishes certain limitations on the maximum annuity provided by the state. Amends how
retired judges that resume service as full-time judicial officers may rejoin the JRS 2 retirement plan. See
Gov’t Code ch. 33, subch. B; Gov’t Code ch. 72, subch. C; Gov’t Code §§ 665.052, 820.053, 834.102, 837.102,
837.103, 840.1025, 840.1027.
SB 1574: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires the Texas Judicial Council to establish by rule a centers for excellence program to identify,
support, and recognize justices and judges who excel in serving their communities and representing the
judiciary. Specifies criteria the council must consider in in awarding a center of excellence recognition.
See Gov’t Code § 71.040.
SJR 27: Election Date is 11/4/2025. Enabling legislation is SB 293.
Amends the Texas Constitution to: change State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) composition,
residency requirements, and regular terms of office; expand and alter SCJC remedial power; and permit
the SCJC to recommend to the Supreme Court that a judge or justice be suspended with or without pay
pending final disposition of a charge.
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Costs, Fees, Fines, and Collections
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies various fees charged for certain filings. Outlines fees in expunction proceedings. Details
fees for certain personal property filings and real property records filings. Modifies the dollar amount
a defendant receives credit for while serving a sentence of confinement or community service for a
misdemeanor. See also Omnibus.
HB 2282: Effective 9/1/2025.
Modifies a reimbursement fee for services of peace officers paid by defendants convicted of felonies or
misdemeanors. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 102.011.
HB 2524: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends certain sections of the Family Code to permit court and other costs to be paid under a court’s
order. Allows enforcement of certain court orders in an attorney’s name. See Fam. Code §§ 6.502, 6.708,
6.709, 8.0591; ch. 8, subch. B.
SB 1547: Effective 6/20/2025.
Requires clerks to charge fees for electronic copies of real property records in accordance with
Government Code Sections 552.231 and 552.262, as opposed to the current charge of $0.10 per page.
See Loc. Gov’t Code § 118.011.
SB 1667: Effective 6/20/2025.
Requires defendants to submit an ex parte petition to obtain an expunction order upon successful
completion of a veterans treatment program or a mental health court program. Imposes limits on a
petition for an expunction. Requires district clerks to compile and maintain on their respective website
a list of agencies, along with the e-mail address of each agency, that must be included in the petition for
an expunction. Requires courts to wait a minimum of 30 days before setting a hearing for an expunction
petition. Repeals provisions requiring clerks to send a copy of the expunction petition and notice of
hearing to the Texas Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial Branch. Requires state agencies
to accept an electronic copy of the expunction petition and notice of hearing and prohibits clerks from
assessing a fee to send the documents electronically. Authorizes a fee to send the petition and notice of
hearing to an agency unable to receive an electronic copy of the documents. Authorizes the retention
of certain mental health information, even if that information is subject to an expunction order. Repeals
provisions requiring destruction of the expunction order itself by allowing clerks to keep the order but
limiting its release to the petitioner only. Repeals other fees and costs associated with an ex parte petition
for an expunction. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 55A.203, 55A.253, 55A.254, 55A.256, 55A.3025, 55A.351,
55A.356.
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Costs, Fees, Fines, and Collections Cont’d
SB 1760: Effective 9/1/2025.
Revises procedures for transferring a guardianship from a court in one county to another. Creates a fee
for filing the case with the clerk of the court which receives a transferred case. Creates a receipt form.
Imposes certain duties upon guardians. Grants courts the power to order a guardian to spend money
from the ward’s estate for the education and maintenance of the ward’s minor children or incapacitated
adult children. Requires guardians of an estate to attach certain statements with annual accounts.
Revises certain provisions relating to the closing of the estate of the guardianship and the discharge of
the guardian. See Est. Code, various chs.
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County Courts and District Courts
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Establishes new judicial and prosecutorial districts in various counties, including Brazoria, Comal, Ellis,
Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, Rockwall, Lavaca, Colorado, and Williamson. Specifies that some courts
will give preference to civil cases and other courts to criminal cases. Creates the Maverick County Court
at Law, the County Civil Court at Law No. 5 of Harris County, and the Probate Court No. 2 of Hidalgo
County. See also Omnibus.
HB 171: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends various sections of the Health and Safety Code related to treatment of persons with chemical
dependencies. Adds a minimum of 30 days for certain court-remanded treatment. See Health & Safety
Code §§ 462.001, 462.064, 462.069, 462.075, 462.080, 462.081.
HB 5081: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides protection of personally identifying information of specified judiciary employees. Prohibits
the publication of personally identifying information of those individuals, their children, and their
immediate family members, subject to certain exceptions for data brokers, consumer credit reporting,
law enforcement, journalism, voluntary disclosure, and under other circumstances. Prohibits a person,
including a data broker, from publicly posting protected information on a publicly accessible website,
after the protected person submitted a written request that the information not be disclosed, subject
to certain exceptions. Creates an affirmative duty to remove information from a website within 10 days
after receiving a request to do so from a protected person. Requires the judicial security division of the
Office of Court Administration, subject to appropriation, to develop a process by which a judge can file
a written request with the administrative director of the Office to notify a person that they must remove
protected information from a publicly available website. Provides for civil remedies, including injunctive
relief, a fine, and exemplary damages, court costs and attorney’s fees to a protected person whose
protected information is displayed in violation of the law. Designates a violation of the prohibitions on
disclosing, displaying, or transferring personally identifiable information about a protected person as a
Class B misdemeanor or a Class A misdemeanor if the disclosure results in bodily injury to a protected
person or their immediate family member. See Gov’t Code ch. 92.
SB 251: Effective 6/20/2025.
Authorizes the Commissioners Court of Bell County to hire magistrates to serve the courts with criminal
jurisdiction in the county. Requires the Commissioners Court to set the qualifications, salary, benefits,
and compensation of each magistrate position. Specifies that the qualifications must include experience
serving as a justice of the peace or a municipal court judge, or licensure to practice law in Texas in good
standing for at least two years. Specifies the jurisdiction, powers, and duties of the magistrates. See Gov’t
Code ch. 54; Code Crim. Proc. art. 2A.151.
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County Courts and District Courts Cont’d
SB 387: Effective 9/1/2025.
Increases the bond to $500,000 for judges of county courts and statutory county courts who preside over
certain guardianship and probate proceedings. Amends which judges must observe bond requirements.
See Gov’t Code §§ 25.0006, 26.001.
SB 663: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires the district judge or district judges trying criminal cases in each judicial district and the statutory
county court judges trying criminal cases in the county or counties served by the judicial district to perform
certain actions, including reviewing, rather than approving, a community supervision and corrections
department’s budget and strategic plan following approval of the budget and plan by the community
justice assistant division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. See Gov’t Code §§ 76.002, 76.0045.
SB 664: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends various provisions of Ch. 54, Government Code, regarding the qualifications of masters,
magistrates, referees, associate judges, and hearing officers appointed under the chapter. Requires
a Chapter 54 judicial officer whose duties include bail decisions to comply with certain bail training
requirements. Authorizes the removal of Ch. 54 judicial officers under Section 24, Article V of the Texas
Constitution. Requires a local administrative judge to ensure a Ch. 54 judicial officer complies with certain
requirements. Requires the local administrative judge to report certain violations to the commissioners
court, the regional administrative presiding judge, the Office of Court Administration, and the State
Commission on Judicial Conduct. Requires a local administrative judge to supervise the performance of
Ch. 54 judicial officers. See Gov’t Code ch. 54, subch. A; Gov’t Code §§ 54A.003, 54A.103, 54A.305, 74.092.
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Courthouse Security and Judicial Privacy
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Expands judicial privacy protections to cover employees and commissioners of the State Commission on
Judicial Conduct, as well as employees of the Office of Court Administration and entities administratively
attached thereto. Protects the personal information of judges, court employees, and related officials
by allowing redaction of sensitive information from public records and licenses. Requires a local court
security committee to make recommendations to local government, including by developing a court
emergency management plan. Requires a court security committee to meet periodically and provides
that the committee is not a governmental body for open meetings or public information purposes.
Requires OCA’s Judicial Security Division to develop a model court emergency management plan. See
also Omnibus.
HB 1506: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the definition of a retired judicial officer to include retired judges of a constitutional or statutory
county court who served in that capacity for at least four years. See Gov’t Code § 411.201.
HB 1950: Effective 5/29/2025.
Exempts municipalities with populations below 100,000 from maintaining municipal court building
security funds or municipal court technology funds. Creates new consolidated municipal court
building security and technology funds for municipalities with populations below 100,000 and makes
accompanying changes. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 102.017, 102.0172, 102.0175; Loc. Gov’t Code § 134.103.
HB 5081: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides protection of personally identifying information of specified judiciary employees. Prohibits
the publication of personally identifying information of those individuals, their children, and their
immediate family members, subject to certain exceptions for data brokers, consumer credit reporting,
law enforcement, journalism, voluntary disclosure, and under other circumstances. Prohibits a person,
including a data broker, from publicly posting protected information on a publicly accessible website,
after the protected person submitted a written request that the information not be disclosed, subject
to certain exceptions. Creates an affirmative duty to remove information from a website within 10 days
after receiving a request to do so from a protected person. Requires the judicial security division of the
Office of Court Administration, subject to appropriation, to develop a process by which a judge can file
a written request with the administrative director of the Office to notify a person that they must remove
protected information from a publicly available website. Provides for civil remedies, including injunctive
relief, a fine, and exemplary damages, court costs and attorney’s fees to a protected person whose
protected information is displayed in violation of the law. Designates a violation of the prohibitions on
disclosing, displaying, or transferring personally identifiable information about a protected person as a
Class B misdemeanor or a Class A misdemeanor if the disclosure results in bodily injury to a protected
person or their immediate family member. See Gov’t Code ch. 92.
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Courthouse Security and Judicial Privacy Cont’d
SB 890: Effective 9/1/2025.
Extends the right to carry a concealed handgun to active and retired statutory probate court judges upon
receipt of an expedited license from the Texas Department of Public Safety. See Gov’t Code § 411.201.
SB 2141: Effective 9/1/2025.
Permits state and federal judges entitled to receive a specialty license plate to elect to receive a license
plate that does not include the words “State Judge” or “U.S. Judge.” See Transp. Code § 504.403(b).
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Criminal Law and Procedure
HB 20 (2nd Called Session): Effective 12/4/2025.
Enhances criminal penalties related to disaster scams and creates criminal offenses related to the
malicious solicitation of disaster victims or for disaster response or relief. Creates civil liability for
malicious solicitation during a disaster. See Penal Code §§ 31.03, 32.61; Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 100D.
See also Civil Law and Procedure.
HB 47: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends certain rights of victims regarding related medical care and required notices thereof. Adds
rideshare driving among prohibited employment for those required to register as sex offenders. Requires
rideshare providers to search the state sex offender public website before permitting an individual to log
in as a driver. Amends the period of validity for a certification of a sexual assault nurse examiner. Extends
basic sexual assault response policy and training requirements to certain health care facility contractors.
Adds legal aid services providers to standard information forms for sexual assault survivors. Amends SAFE
program standards. Amends county adult sexual assault response team reporting requirements. Adds
county adult sexual assault response team noncompliance criteria and outcomes. Amends physician
and physician assistant forensic evidence collection continuing education requirements and revises
them from optional to mandatory. Amends a tenant’s right to vacate and avoid liability following certain
sex offenses or stalking. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 29.14, 561A.051, 56A.052, 56A.401, 56A.451, 62.063;
Fam. Code § 57.002; Gov’t Code § 420.011; Health & Safety Code §§ 323.0046, 323.005, 323.0051, 323.0052,
323.053; Loc. Gov’t Code § 351.257; Occ. Code §§ 156.057, 204.1563, 2402.107; Prop. Code § 92.0161.
HB 75: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires an arresting magistrate, having determined that no probable cause exists to believe that a
person committed the offense for which they were arrested, enter support of their findings in the written
record within 24 hours of their determination. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17.
HB 108: Effective 9/1/2025.
Elevates offenses under Title 5, Penal Code, when metal or body armor was used during their commission.
Requires a judge make an affirmative finding of fact in certain such trials. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 42.01,
42.01992; Penal Code § 12.503.
HB 127: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates a Higher Education Research Security Council. Prohibits institutes of higher education and
their employees from accepting certain gifts from foreign adversaries. Prohibits academic partnerships
with certain foreign adversaries. Prohibits student organizations from accepting gifts from foreign
adversaries or receiving financial support under contracts or agreements with foreign adversaries.
Requires institutes of higher education to screen certain researchers and provides screening guidelines.
Requires institutes of higher education to establish research security offices. Requires institutes of
higher education to establish international travel approval and monitoring programs. Establishes new
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Criminal Law and Procedure Cont’d
recordkeeping requirements. Amends the criminal penalty for the offense of theft of trade secrets. See
Educ. Code § 51.957; Educ. Code ch. 51B; Penal Code § 31.05.
HB 130: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits covered entities from using certain software and genome sequencers produced by foreign
adversaries. Prohibits the sale of certain genomic sequencing data as part of bankruptcy proceedings or
plans. Prohibits the storage of certain genome sequencing data in foreign adversary countries. Requires
annual certification of compliance from covered entities. Establishes a civil penalty, recoverable by the
attorney general, for violations of the chapter. Establishes a private civil cause of action for violations of
the chapter. See Health & Safety Code ch. 174.
HB 166: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands presumption for criminal offense of abandonment or endangerment of a child, elderly individual,
or disabled individual in connection with Penalty Group 1-B substances. See Penal Code § 22.041.
HB 285: Effective 9/1/2025.
Adds criminal negligence as a culpable mental state for the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.
Creates a defense to prosecution for cruelty to nonlivestock animals for veterinarians and assistants for
conduct occurring while discharging their duties. See Penal Code § 42.092.
HB 654: Effective 9/1/2025.
Permits dismissal of certain hunting violations after completion of a hunter education course. See Parks
& Wild. Code § 61.902.
HB 1422: Effective 9/1/2025.
Authorizes sexual assault survivor consent to forensic DNA testing and profile comparison of biological
evidence collected during certain medical examinations. Permits results of such DNA testing to be used
in a subsequent criminal investigation or trial. Directs for the survivor to be provided with any results
from the testing. Creates the offense of continuous sexual abuse where, during a period greater than 30
days, a person 17 years old or older commits three or more acts of sexual abuse on any other person
and lists it among offenses ineligible for judge-ordered community supervision. Recategorizes voyeurism
and creates a state jail felony where the actor has previously been convicted of voyeurism, the victim
is a child younger than 18, and the offense is committed at a postsecondary school. Creates a thirddegree felony for voyeurism where the victim is a child younger than 18 and the actor has previously
been convicted of voyeurism where the victim was under 18. Permits sentences to run concurrently or
consecutively where an accused is found guilty of more than one sexual assault or aggravated sexual
assault arising out of the same criminal episode. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 42A.054, 42A.102, 56A.306,
62.001; Gov’t Code §§ 420.0735, 420.0736, 499.027, 508.145, 508.149, 508.151, 508.189; Penal Code §§
3.03, 12.35, 12.42, 12.502, 15.031, 15.032, 21.03, 21.17, 21.18, 22.021.
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HB 1443: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates an offense for knowingly possessing, promoting, or possessing with the intent to promote
a child-like sex doll. Creates an affirmative defense for possession or promotion for a bona fide law
enforcement purpose. See Penal Code § 43.231.
HB 1465: Effective 9/1/2025.
Adds reportable convictions or adjudications for invasive visual recording to the sex offender registration
program. Amends the offense of invasive visual recording to apply to places in which a person has a
reasonable expectation of privacy and defines the same. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 62.001; Penal Code §
21.15.
HB 1778: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends membership in the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinating Council
to include the Texas Office of Court Administration. Requires the Texas Commission of Licensing and
Regulation to adopt rules regarding human trafficking training for beauty and barber shops and schools,
requires tattoo and body piercing studio employees to complete such training, and requires posting of
signage regarding human trafficking. Clarifies that a person who commits the offense of trafficking of
persons is culpable regardless of whether the person knows the age of the child victim or whether the
person knows the victim is disabled. Amends the offense of human trafficking qualified as a first-degree
felony to include when committed at school bus stops or other pick-up or drop-off zones. Amends the
offense of solicitation of prostitution. Creates a new offense of continuous promotion of prostitution and
makes those convicted of such an offense ineligible for certain licenses. Amends the offense of possession
or promotion of child pornography. Adds a minimum term of confinement for certain convictions under
that offense. Amends the offenses of failure to stop or report sexual or assaultive offense against child
and continuous promotion of prostitution to have no statute of limitation. Extends the qualifications for
outcry statements made by child victims to include persons with a disability. Amends and retitles failure
to stop or report aggravated assault of child as failure to stop or report aggravated sexual or assaultive
offense against child, elevating the offense from a class A misdemeanor to a third-degree felony. Adjusts
required reporting to the Texas Office of Court Administration of offenses from district courts and county
courts at law. Amends required human trafficking reporting to the Texas Office of Attorney General.
Establishes a statewide human trafficking data repository within the Office of the Attorney General. See
Gov’t Code §§ 71.0353, 402.034, 402.035, 402.0351, 402.0352, 402.0353; Health & Safety Code §§ 146.0075,
169.002; Occ. Code §§ 455.005, 455.152, 455.251, 1603.302; Penal Code §§ 20A.02, 38.17, 42.032; 43.021,
43.26; Code Crim. Proc. arts. 12.01, 17.081, 17.465, 38.072, 38.37, 42A.054, 56B.003, 58.051.
HB 1871: Effective 9/1/2025.
Elevates attempted capital murder of a peace officer to a first-degree felony and sets a minimum and
maximum penalty for the same. Denies eligibility for release on parole or to mandatory supervision for
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anyone convicted of attempted capital murder of a peace officer. See Penal Code § 15.01; Gov’t Code §§
508.145, 508.149.
HB 1902: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates a new felony offense of jugging, or theft of money after following someone’s departure from a
business or financial institution. See Penal Code § 29.04.
HB 2001: Effective 9/1/2025.
Modifies classifications of the offense of misuse of official information, to repeal a misdemeanor
reduction and elevate certain charged conduct to felonies. See Penal Code § 39.06.
HB 2073: Effective 9/1/2025.
Modifies the classification of the offense of violation of certain court orders or conditions of bond in a
family violence, child abuse or neglect, sexual assault or abuse, indecent assault, stalking, or trafficking
case to elevate to a state jail felony certain bond condition violations while possessing a deadly weapon.
Modifies the classification of the related charge of repeated violation to elevate to a second-degree
felony if any of the violations were punishable as state jail felonies. See Penal Code §§ 25.07, 25.072.
HB 2348: Effective 9/1/2025.
Permits depositions of elderly or disabled persons by video recording. Modifies predicates to read certain
depositions and adds predicates to publishing depositions. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 39.025, 39.12.
HB 2510: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates a new offense of personal assistance services provided without license to certain individuals.
Creates a new offense for operating an unlicensed assisted living facility. See Health & Safety Code §§
142.00605, 247.0441.
HB 2524: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends certain sections of the Family Code to permit court and other costs to be paid under a court’s
order. Allows enforcement of certain court orders in an attorney’s name. See Fam. Code §§ 6.502, 6.708,
6.709, 8.0591; ch. 8, subch. B.
HB 2593: Effective 9/1/2025.
Elevates the offense of indecent assault to a second-degree felony when committed against disabled or
elderly individuals. See Penal Code § 22.012.
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HB 2594: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends venue for the offense of theft, organized retail theft, and cargo theft to include venue for theft
of intangible personal property. Amends venue for the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity
to include venue for theft of intangible personal property. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 13A.251, 13A.501.
HB 2596: Effective 9/1/2025.
Allows victims of certain burglary offenses to file an application for a protective order, if the alleged
offender committed the offense with the intent to commit certain other offenses. See Code Crim. Proc. ch.
7B, art. 56A.
HB 2697: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires a surety to notify the defendant’s attorney of the surety’s intention to surrender the principal.
Requires a surety, in felony cases, to notify the prosecution of the surety’s intent to surrender a defendant
to the court before filing an affidavit, thus canceling the surety’s bond. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.19.
HB 2733: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands the conduct constituting solicitation for purposes of the Class A misdemeanor and third-degree
felony offense of barratry and solicitation of professional employment to include certain communication
made by means of a direct message on a social media platform by other electronic communication. See
Penal Code § 38.12.
HB 2761: Effective 9/1/2025.
Stipulates that it is not a defense to prosecution of the offenses of trafficking of persons, continuous
trafficking of persons, and compelling prostitution, if a trafficked child or disabled individual did not
complete the act of prostitution and/or lacks the culpable mental state to knowingly engage in the act of
prostitution. See Penal Code §§ 20A.02, 20A.03, 43.05.
HB 3073: Effective 9/1/2025.
Establishes that an act of sexual assault is without a person’s consent, if the actor knows that the other
person is intoxicated or impaired by any substance to the extent that the other person is incapable of
consenting. See Penal Code § 22.011.
HB 3185: Effective 9/1/2025.
Relates to the investigations of certain cybercrimes and authorizes a prosecutor to issue and serve an
administrative subpoena that requires the production of certain records. See Gov’t Code ch. 426.
HB 3425: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands the conduct that constitutes the offense of obstruction or retaliation and the offense of unlawful
disclosure of residential address or telephone number to include disclosing through an electronic
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communication the residential address or telephone number of a public servant or member of the
public servant’s family or household with intent to cause harm or a threat of harm in retaliation for or
on account of the service or status of the individual as a public servant. See Penal Code §§ 36.06, 42.074.
HB 3463: Effective 9/1/2025.
Clarifies the form of notice demanding payment required for the offense of theft of service when an
actor has secured performance of a service by agreeing to provide compensation but fails to make full
payment. See Penal Code § 31.04.
HB 3464: Effective 9/1/2025.
Enhances the punishment for correctional facility employees who provide a controlled substance to
an inmate in the correctional facility from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony, or a firstdegree felony if the provided controlled substance causes the death of a person in the custody of the
correctional facility. See Penal Code § 38.11.
HB 4749: Effective 9/1/2025.
Permits counties with populations below 1,000 to draw names for the jury wheel from eligible residents
of contiguous counties within the same judicial district and modifies grand and petit jury qualifications
accordingly. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 19A.01.
HB 4995: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides for the certification as a tactical medical professional of physicians and emergency medical
personnel who are licensed to carry handguns and are employed or appointed by a law enforcement
agency to provide medical services to victims, officers, and other persons in direct support to a tactical
unit responding to a high-risk incident. Requires the director of the Department of Public Safety and
the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to develop minimum standards for initial and continuing
education in handgun instruction for tactical medical professionals to obtain and maintain certification.
Immunizes governmental units from civil liability arising from the discharge of a handgun by tactical
medical professionals. Provides tactical medical professionals a defense to prosecution for offenses
relating to possession of weapons and for trespass with a concealed or openly carried handgun, if they
are discharging their duties while carrying a handgun. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 112.001; Gov’t Code ch.
411; Penal Code §§ 30.06, 30.07, 46.15.
HB 4996: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the offense of refusal to execute a release of a fraudulent lien or claim on real or personal
property from a Class A misdemeanor to a third-degree felony, if the person who refuses to release the
fraudulent lien or claim knows the property at issue is owned by a public servant. See Penal Code § 32.49.
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HB 5238: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits a person from creating an electronic disturbance, including hacking, in a lawful virtual meeting,
procession, or gathering with intent to prevent or disrupt it. Designates a violation of the prohibition as
a Class B misdemeanor. See Penal Code § 42.05.
HB 5436: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates an exemption from titling requirements for certain vehicles purchased by a used automotive
parts recycler if the vehicle is at least 13 years of age, has not been registered for at least seven years,
and was purchased solely for parts, dismantling, or scrap. Requires a used automotive parts recycler to
compile a record of information regarding each vehicle purchased, including a written statement from
the seller certifying a right to sell the vehicle and acknowledging that falsifying the statement is subject
to criminal penalties and the payment of restitution. Requires used automotive parts recyclers to report
information regarding vehicles they purchase to the Department of Motor Vehicles and the National
Motor Vehicle Title Information System within 24 hours after purchase. Requires the department to
notify the automotive recyclers within 48 hours thereafter to inform them whether the vehicle has
been reported stolen. Requires the recycler to notify appropriate local law enforcement if the vehicle is
reported stolen. Requires the department to add a notation to the motor vehicle record of the vehicle,
stating the vehicle has been dismantled, scrapped, or destroyed and cancel the title. Requires automotive
recyclers to check for unsatisfied recorded security interests or liens on purchased vehicles which were
recorded within six years prior to purchase and to report such liens to the county assessor-collector of
the county where the recycler is located. Requires county assessor-collectors to notify lienholders and
registered owners of vehicles subject to such liens. Requires restitution to be paid by a seller who sells a
vehicle in violation of the bill’s requirements. Makes it an offense punishable as a Class C misdemeanor
to falsify or fail to obtain information regarding a vehicle or to sell a vehicle which is subject to a security
interest or lien that was recorded within six years prior to the sale. Requires enhanced penalties for
repeat offenses. See Transp. Code §§ 501.098, 501.109.
SB 8 (2nd Called Session): Effective 9/22/2025
Establishes framework for the designation and use of certain spaces and facilities according to sex. Makes
a political subdivision or state agency that violates the chapter created by the bill liable for a civil penalty.
Creates a cause of action for a person affected by a political subdivision’s or state agency’s violation of
the chapter created by the bill. Provides that a state court lacks jurisdiction to consider certain relief that
would declare the new chapter invalid or unconstitutional or otherwise restrain enforcement of the new
chapter. See Gov’t Code ch. 3002. See also Civil Law and Procedure.
SB 9: Effective dates vary.
Requires Public Safety Report System (PSRS) to show whether a defendant is on community supervision,
parole, mandatory supervision, released on bail, or participating in certain pretrial intervention programs,
and provide certain warrant and protective order information. Permits a magistrate to order, prepare, or
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consider a PSRS report in setting bail for certain defendants not in custody. Amends the release on bail
of defendants charged with a felony offense. Creates a review of bail process for certain bail decisions.
Requires the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to configure the PSRS to allow a county or municipality
to integrate a county’s jail record management system and case management system with the PSRS.
Authorizes OCA to provide grants for systems integration. Requires charitable bail organizations to
report certain information to OCA and requires OCA to report to the appropriate sheriff information
about suspected violations of Article 17.071. Requires a judge to make an affirmative finding in the
disposition of a criminal case involving any offense punishable as a Class B misdemeanor or higher if
the judge determines the defendant willfully failed to appear after the defendant was released from
custody. Permits the state to appeal a court order granting bail in an amount considered insufficient by
the prosecuting attorney for certain charged offenses. See Code Crim. Proc. chs. 16, 17, 27, 42, 44, 56A;
Gov’t Code § 72.038; Hum. Res. Code § 51A.003.
SB 11 (2nd Called Session): Effective 12/4/2025.
Provides affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling
prostitution. See Penal Code § 8.09.
SB 12 (2nd Called Session): Effective 2/4/2025
Provides that attorney general has jurisdiction to prosecute and must represent the state in the
prosecution of a criminal offense under the Election Code. See Gov’t Code ch. 402, sub. E.
SB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective 12/4/2025.
Creates criminal offenses relating to real property theft and real property fraud. Details what judgment
of conviction for real property theft or real property fraud must include and requires certain filings with
the county clerk related to the judgment. Requires court to enter certain restitution for real property
theft. Requires presentment of photo identification for filing of certain real property records. See Code
Crim. Proc. art. 12.01, ch. 5C, and art. 42.0376; Loc. Gov’t Code §§ 191.010; and Penal Code §§ 31.23,
32.60 See also Clerks.
SB 17: Effective 9/1/2025.
Adds a new subchapter to Chapter 5, Property Code, related to the purchase or acquisition of real
property by certain foreign individuals or entities. Creates a state jail felony offense for the intentional
or knowing purchase or other acquisition of an interest in real property in violation of the subchapter
added by the bill. Creates a civil action for violations of the subchapter and authorizes the attorney
general to bring an action to collect the penalty. See Prop. Code ch. 5, subch. H.
SB 20: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates the criminal offense of possession or promotion of obscene visual material appearing to depict
a child. See Penal Code § 43.235.
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SB 127: Effective 9/1/2025.
Specifies that a felony indictment must be presented no later than four years after the date of the
offense for failure to report child abuse or neglect with intent to conceal abuse or neglect, as a licensed
or certified professional or employee of a facility who in the normal course of duties has direct contact
with children. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 12.01.
SB 305: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands the criminal offense of passing certain vehicles on a highway to include vehicles operated by an
animal control officer or an officer issuing parking citations for a local authority among those triggering
the requirement for a driver to slow down or move over before passing the vehicle. See Transp. Code §
545.157.
SB 412: Effective 9/1/2025.
Modifies affirmative defense to the crime of sale, distribution, or display of harmful materials to minors
and to the crime of sexual performance by a child. See Penal Code §§ 43.24, 43.25.
SB 456: Effective 9/1/2025.
Increases the penalty for the offense of purchasing or selling human organs. See Penal Code § 48.02.
SB 482: Effective 9/1/2025.
Enhances the punishment for assaulting or harassing a utility employee or agent working in a disaster
or evacuated area. See Penal Code §§ 12.50, 22.01, 38.15, 42.07.
SB 535: Effective 9/1/2025.
Makes evidence of the victim’s past sexual behavior inadmissible in the trial of certain trafficking, sexual,
and assaultive offenses, unless the judge makes certain findings after examining the evidence upon the
defendant’s request. Disapproves of Rule 412, Texas Rules of Evidence, under Government Code Section
22.109(b). See Code Crim. Proc. art. 38.372; Gov’t Code § 22.109(b).
SB 693: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates a criminal offense of notarization for person not personally appearing. Provides an affirmative
defense if the signer presented a fraudulent identification. Requires a notary public to complete continuing
education for reappointment. Requires the secretary of state to adopt rules regarding a notary public’s
continuing education. See Gov’t Code §§ 406.006, 406.009, 406.0091, 406.011, 406.014, 406.023.
SB 745: Effective 9/1/2025.
Elevates the offense of intoxication manslaughter from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony
if the defendant causes the death of more than one person during the same criminal transaction. See
Penal Code § 49.09.
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SB 761: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires courts to inquire as to whether the prosecutor conferred with the victim regarding the
disposition of the case before accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere. Expands crime victims’ rights
to include, among other things, the right to timely notice of key court proceedings, including the right to
know when a proceeding is cancelled or rescheduled, the right to know that the prosecutor is not the
victim’s attorney, the right to assert or have the victim’s guardian or close relative of a deceased victim
assert orally or in writing any right granted the victim, and the right to have an advocate or attorney
present during a SANE exam or an investigative interview if the victim reports a sexual assault. Defines
“consent” for purposes of prosecuting the offense of sexual assault. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 26.13,
56A.051, 56A.0531, 56A.351, 56A.351, 56A.451, 56A.451, 56A.452, 56A.351, 56A.3515; Penal Code § 22.011.
SB 826: Effective 9/1/2025.
Elevates the offense of driving while intoxicated from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony if the
offense is in a school crossing zone when the reduced speed limit is in effect. See Penal Code § 49.04.
SB 836: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits, unless the parties and victim provide their express consent, the livestreaming of trials or other
court proceedings in which the evidence or testimony will depict or describe acts of a sexual nature.
Allows a victim of a sex offense to use a pseudonym during the investigation and prosecution of the
offense. Limits the use, availability, dissemination, transmission, and copying of invasive visual recordings
and evidence collected during a SANE examination and requires courts to enter a protective order when
evidence from the examination or recording is produced to the defense. Prohibits using evidence from
a victim’s forensic medical exam to prosecute the victim for a misdemeanor or drug related offense. See
Gov’t Code § 21.014; Code Crim. Proc. arts. 38.435, 38.451, 39.152, 39.153, 58.103.
SB 955: Effective 9/1/2025.
Elevates the offense of trafficking of persons to a first-degree felony if the defendant recruits, entices,
or obtains the trafficked person from a correctional facility while the person is confined. Imposes a
minimum 25-year sentence on trafficking offenses committed on or about the premises of certain
locations, including on or about the premises of a correctional facility. See Penal Code § 20A.02.
SB 1020: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires certain persons to notify the magistrate or court when the defendant violates a condition of
bond or community supervision related to an electronic monitoring or global positioning device. Clarifies
that electronic or global monitoring device information does not fall under the umbrella of “judicial work
product.” Grants community supervision and corrections departments the authority to share location
information of a violating defendant with law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. See Code Crim.
Proc. arts. 17.431, 17.442, 42A.7515; Gov’t Code §§ 21.013, 76.019.
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SB 1120: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands crime victims’ rights in cases involving “family violence,” a term the bill aligns with specific
offenses, to include the right to a disclosure of information regarding any evidence collected or tested
during the investigation and prosecution of the offense, and the right to be informed and to confer with
the prosecutor about the disposition of the case, a plea bargain agreement, a decision not to prosecute,
or the use of a pretrial intervention program, among other rights. Extends the duration of certain
protective orders to two years after the final divorce decree, the final order in a suit affecting the parentchild relationship, or the final disposition in a criminal case. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 56A.0521; Fam. Code
§ 85.025.
SB 1212: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the offense of trafficking of persons as it regards whether the defendant knows the person
trafficked is a child or disabled person and increases the penalty for the offense from a second to firstdegree felony. See Penal Code § 20A.02; Code Crim. Proc. art. 38.37.
SB 1300: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates indictment and information guidelines and adds language regarding evidence for the offense of
organized retail theft. Amends definitions and classification for the offenses of theft and organized retail
theft. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 21.155, 38.51; Penal Code §§ 31.01, 31.08, 31.16.
SB 1349: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates a new offense of transnational repression and unauthorized enforcement of foreign law. Creates
a transnational repression training program under the Texas Department of Public Safety and directs
for a study on the threat of transnational repression. See Penal Code §§ 76.045, 76.046; Gov’t Code §
411.02098.
SB 1362: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits recognition, service, and enforcement of extreme risk protective orders. Prohibits public
adoption or enforcement of extreme risk protective orders unless authorized by state law. Deems
certain federal laws regarding extreme risk protective orders unenforceable and prohibits accepting
grant funding for their implementation, service, or enforcement. Creates a new state jail felony offense
for service, enforcement, or attempted service or enforcement of extreme risk protective orders, except
those issued under state law. See Code Crim. Proc. ch. 7C.
SB 1379: Effective 9/1/2025.
Elevates charges of the offense of forgery and reduces the property value qualified for the first-degree
felony offense. See Penal Code § 32.21.
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SB 1451: Effective 9/1/2025.
Elevates the offense of stealing or receiving stolen check or similar sight order to a state jail felony. See
Penal Code § 32.24.
SB 1537: Effective 5/30/2025.
Standardizes the appointment of interpreters in criminal proceedings by requiring courts to make such
appointments, including the appointment of a person who is not licensed or certified, in accordance with
Government Code Section 57.002. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 38.30.
SB 1596: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the offense of prohibited weapons to remove short-barrel firearms and removes their definition.
See Penal Code §§ 46.05, 46.01.
SB 1621: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands conduct constituting possession or promotion of child pornography, modifies penalty
enhancements connected to the offense and expands the conditions under which penalty enhancements
apply, creates a state jail felony offense of possession of computer-generated child pornography, creates
a felony-level offense for promotion of computer-generated child pornography, and modifies certain
defenses to prosecution for child pornography offenses. See Penal Code §§ 21.16, 43.26, 43.261, 43.262;
Code Crim. Proc. arts. 38.45, 39.15.
SB 1809: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates an offense of fraudulent use, possession, or tampering with gift card, gift card packaging, or
gift card data or redemption information. Sets the offense felony level based on number of gift cards
fraudulently used, possessed or tampered with under the statute. See Penal Code § 32.56.
SB 1833: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates an offense of use of social media platform for delivery of controlled substance as an enhancement
under certain other offenses of the Texas Controlled Substances Act. See Health & Safety Code § 481.142.
SB 1896: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires officers, under certain conditions, to provide information necessary for the issuance of a
magistrate’s order for emergency protection. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 14.06, 15.052, 15.17, 17.292.
SB 2112: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends penalties regarding cultivated oyster mariculture violations. See Parks & Wild. Code § 75.0107.
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SB 2570: Effective 6/20/2025.
Defines use of less-lethal force weapon regarding correctional facility guards and peace officers
discharging official duties. See Penal Code § 9.55.
SB 2798: Effective 9/1/2025.
Modifies the statute of limitations for certain offenses related to fraud. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 12.01.
SB 3031: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends when the offense of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle is charged as a first-degree felony.
See Penal Code § 22.02.
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Elections and Lobbying
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies the special procedures for contest of constitutional amendment election to provide that the
filing of an election contest does not suspend implementation of a constitutional amendment approved
by the majority of votes cast. Modifies the timeline when a trial court must issue certain rulings. See also
Omnibus.
HB 119: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires certain foreign adversary lobbyist registration with the Texas Ethics Commission. Prohibits
compensation from foreign adversaries for certain lobbyists and creates a related civil cause of action
by the attorney general for violations thereof. See Gov’t Code §§ 305.003, 305.030.
HB 521: Effective 9/1/2025.
Adds curbside voting parking spaces to the premises where criminal electioneering and loitering are
prohibited. Amends requirements for delivery of ballots to voters unable to enter a polling place. Amends
requirements on who must complete an attestation form for having assisted a voter. See Elec. Code §§
61.003, 64.009, 64.0322, 85.036.
HB 1661: Effective 9/1/2025.
Makes certain changes to balloting processes for elections and creates a new misdemeanor offense
regarding intentional failure to provide a required number of ballots. Increases the severity of certain
election offenses. See Elec. Code §§ 51.005, 51.008, 51.010, 51.011, 61.007.
HB 5115: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the offense of election fraud from a Class A misdemeanor to a second-degree felony; a state
jail felony to a first-degree felony if committed by an elected official; and a Class B misdemeanor to a
third-degree felony for an attempt. Repeals Section 276.014, Elections Code, which prohibits counting
or reporting invalid votes and refusing to count or report valid votes and transfers the substance of
that section to Section 276.013 which lists conduct as election fraud. Repeals enhanced sanctions for
repeat offenses, offenses involving persons over 65 years of age, and multiple offenses committed in
one election. See Elec. Code §§ 276.013, 276.014.
SB 509: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires a court to electronically notify the Office of the Attorney General of a hearing in an action under
the Election Code seeking a temporary restraining order as soon as practicable before the hearing.
Prevents a court from holding a hearing sooner than one hour after the court provides notice to the
attorney general and allows the attorney general to participate remotely in said hearing. See Elec. Code
§ 273.082.
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Emergency and Disaster Management and Response
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Requires a local court security committee to make recommendations to local government, including
by developing a court emergency management plan. Requires a court security committee to meet
periodically and provides that the committee is not a governmental body for open meetings or public
information purposes. Requires OCA’s Judicial Security Division to develop a model court emergency
management plan. See also Omnibus.
HB 4995: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides for the certification as a tactical medical professional of physicians and emergency medical
personnel who are licensed to carry handguns and are employed or appointed by a law enforcement
agency to provide medical services to victims, officers, and other persons in direct support to a tactical
unit responding to a high-risk incident. Requires the director of the Department of Public Safety and
the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to develop minimum standards for initial and continuing
education in handgun instruction for tactical medical professionals to obtain and maintain certification.
Immunizes governmental units from civil liability arising from the discharge of a handgun by tactical
medical professionals. Provides tactical medical professionals a defense to prosecution for offenses
relating to possession of weapons and for trespass with a concealed or openly carried handgun, if they
are discharging their duties while carrying a handgun. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 112.001; Gov’t Code ch.
411; Penal Code §§ 30.06, 30.07, 46.15.
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Expunctions and Nondisclosures
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies various fees charged for certain filings. Outlines fees in expunction proceedings. See also
Omnibus.
SB 835: Effective 9/1/2025.
Makes a nondisclosure and confidentiality agreement void and unenforceable if it prohibits or limits a
person’s ability to disclose an act of sexual abuse. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 129C.
SB 958: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands the list of offenses eligible for which a victim of human trafficking or compelling prostitution
may receive an order of nondisclosure to include a prostitution offense and certain misdemeanor drug,
criminal trespass, theft, forgery of a government document and public intoxication offenses. See Gov’t
Code § 411.0728.
SB 1667: Effective 6/20/2025.
Requires defendants to submit an ex parte petition to obtain an expunction order upon successful
completion of a veterans treatment program or a mental health court program. Imposes limits on a
petition for an expunction. Requires district clerks to compile and maintain on their respective website
a list of agencies, along with the e-mail address of each agency, that must be included in the petition for
an expunction. Requires courts to wait a minimum of 30 days before setting a hearing for an expunction
petition. Repeals provisions requiring clerks to send a copy of the expunction petition and notice of
hearing to the Texas Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial Branch. Requires state agencies
to accept an electronic copy of the expunction petition and notice of hearing and prohibits clerks from
assessing a fee to send the documents electronically. Authorizes a fee to send the petition and notice of
hearing to an agency unable to receive an electronic copy of the documents. Authorizes the retention
of certain mental health information, even if that information is subject to an expunction order. Repeals
provisions requiring destruction of the expunction order itself by allowing clerks to keep the order but
limiting its release to the petitioner only. Repeals other fees and costs associated with an ex parte petition
for an expunction. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 55A.203, 55A.253, 55A.254, 55A.256, 55A.3025, 55A.351,
55A.356.
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Family Law
HB 116: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the conditions under which parental rights can be involuntarily terminated. See Fam. Code §§
154.001, 161.001.
HB 1151: Effective 9/1/2025.
Adds to the specific enumerated grounds that are insufficient to support termination of the parentchild relationship, a finding of neglect, or removal of a child from the custody of a parent. Adds that
evidence of a parent’s refusal to administer psychotropic medication to the child or to consent to any
other psychiatric or psychological treatment does not constitute clear and convincing evidence to
support termination of the parent-child relationship, a finding of neglect, or removal of the child from
the custody of a parent, unless the refusal posed a substantial risk of harm. Adds that a parent’s choice
of an alternative health care treatment does not constitute evidence sufficient to support termination of
the parent-child relationship, a finding of neglect, or removal of the child from the custody of the parent,
unless such choice posed a substantial risk of harm. See Fam. Code §§ 161.001, 261.001, 262.116.
HB 1734: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends which documents a court clerk transferring a proceeding is directed to send. See Fam. Code §
155.207.
HB 1916: Effective 9/1/2025.
Clarifies that jurisdiction regarding certain property remains with the court that rendered a final decree
of divorce or annulment. See Fam. Code § 9.201.
HB 1973: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the required documents to be submitted to a court with a petition for suit affecting the parentchild relationship. See Fam. Code § 102.008.
HB 2240: Effective 6/20/2025.
Amends the grounds to void a marriage by declaration of existence of prior marriage. See Fam. Code §§
6.202, 9.401.
HB 2340: Effective 9/1/2025.
Adds definitions, by reference, to the minimum qualifications or a child custody evaluator. Adds certain
requirements to the minimum qualifications or a child custody evaluator. Modifies communications and
recordkeeping requirements of child custody evaluators. See Fam. Code §§ 107.104, 107.112.
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Family Law Cont’d
HB 2350: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the list of those with general standing to file a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
Amends standing for certain relatives, standing to request termination and adoption, and limitations on
standing under the same chapter. See Fam. Code §§ 102.003, 102.0035, 102.004, 102.005, 102.006.
HB 2495: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends various sections of the Education Code and Family Code as to a parent’s general rights as
regards their child and the specific right to designate the school they will attend. See Educ. Code § 26.002;
Fam. Code §§ 31.006, 151.001, 153.132, 153.371.
HB 2530: Effective 9/1/2025.
Various changes regarding attorneys ad litem, amicus attorneys, and adoption evaluators regarding
court-ordered representation in suits affecting the parent-child relationship. See Fam. Code §§ 107.001,
107.003, 107.009, 107.024, 107.0245, 107.025, 107.0255, 107.026, 107.0265, 107.027, 107.0275.
HB 3180: Effective 9/1/2025.
Corrects a scrivener’s error regarding the contents of a request for disclosure in a civil action brought
under the Family Code. See Fam. Code § 301.052.
HB 3181: Effective 9/1/2025.
Relates to the enforcement of a court order for possession of or access to a child and related modification
orders. See Fam. Code §§ 156.107, 157.165-.168.
HB 3783: Effective 6/20/2025.
Prohibits a family court from ordering any form of counseling in which the person conducting the
counseling requires the isolation of the child, including by prohibiting or preventing the child from
contacting a parent or other family member; a child to stay overnight or for multiple days in an outof-state location or other location; the transportation of the child by force, threats or coercion; the
temporary or permanent change in the periods of possession of or access to the child; or the use of
force, threats of force, coercion, or verbal abuse against a child. Requires a mental health professional
providing counseling to have training in the dynamics of family violence and requires the court to consider
the history of domestic violence or sexual abuse in determining whether to order family counseling.
Prohibits the court from ordering any victim to participate in any counseling with the offending party.
See Fam. Code § 153.010.
SB 1141: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires the court to verify in writing and in open court that the Department of Family and Protective
Services provided the parent or alleged perpetrator with certain required notices before the court
conducts the adversary hearing in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship. See Fam. Code § 262.2011.
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Family Law Cont’d
SB 1398: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends various sections of the Family Code as to oversight over community-based care and the services
community-based care can provide. Addresses residential placement of foster children. See Fam. Code
chs. 262, 263, 264; Hum. Res. Code § 40.0583.
SB 1404: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires that a party provide an email address to the court for certain suits affecting the parent-child
relationship. Permits a court clerk to send orders, notices, and other documents relating to final orders
by email. Amends the award of attorney’s fee or expenses for certain suits affecting the parent-child
relationship. See Fam. Code §§ 105.006, 106.002, 157.167.
SB 1559: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides that a protective order issued to protect a person from family violence prevails over other
orders rendered in a suit for dissolution of a marriage or a suit affecting the parent-child relationship and
is subject to transfer. Requires each protective order to include a prominent statement that it prevails
over other orders. Requires a court, on the motion of a party or on the court’s motion, to transfer a
protective order to the court with jurisdiction over a suit for dissolution of a marriage or a suit affecting
a parent-child relationship, if the transferring court finds the transfer will not negatively impact the
safety of a person protected by the order. Requires service of a motion to transfer on all parties, an
opportunity to respond, and a hearing on the motion. Provides each person who is protected by the
order an opportunity to submit a statement on the impact of the transfer on their safety. Requires
courts to consider the impact statement when determining whether to order the transfer. Requires
each transfer order to include a finding that the transfer will not adversely affect the safety of a person
protected by the order. Repeals inconsistent provisions. See Fam. Code §§ 81.012, 83.005, 85.026, 85.064.
SB 1923: Effective 9/1/2025.
Changes certain criteria for the modification of child support and related notices. See Fam. Code § 156.409.
SB 2052: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates a required affidavit for standing of nonparent filing or intervening in certain suits affecting the
parent-child relationship. Creates a rebuttable presumption in a suit between a parent and a nonparent.
Creates certain additional requirements in suits for modification between a parent and nonparent. See
Fam. Code §§ 102.0031, 153.002, 156.008.
SB 2165: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends review of placement of children under care of the Department of Family and Protective Services
(DFPS) and requirements for permanency hearings after final orders. See Fam. Code § 263.4012, 263.501.
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Government Entity or Political Subdivision
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies the immunity of Special Prosecution Unit and makes the Attorney General responsible for
representing the Unit if certain criteria are met. See also Omnibus.
HB 127: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates a Higher Education Research Security Council. Prohibits institutes of higher education and
their employees from accepting certain gifts from foreign adversaries. Prohibits academic partnerships
with certain foreign adversaries. Prohibits student organizations from accepting gifts from foreign
adversaries or receiving financial support under contracts or agreements with foreign adversaries.
Requires institutes of higher education to screen certain researchers and provides screening guidelines.
Requires institutes of higher education to establish research security offices. Requires institutes of
higher education to establish international travel approval and monitoring programs. Establishes new
recordkeeping requirements. Amends the criminal penalty for the offense of theft of trade secrets. See
Educ. Code § 51.957; Educ. Code ch. 51B; Penal Code § 31.05.
HB 1922: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the date a cause of action accrues regarding certain construction liability claims. See Gov’t Code
§ 2272.010.
HB 4310: Effective 9/1/2025.
Grants members of governing boards of governmental bodies a special right of access to public
information held by the governmental body over which they preside and extends this right to certain
nongovernmental entities which contract with the governing body. Allows the governmental body or
nongovernmental entity to require the board member to sign a confidentiality agreement to protect
confidential information disclosed to them. Allows the board member to seek an opinion from the
attorney general regarding the confidentiality of the requested information. See Gov’t Code ch. 552,
subch. K.
HB 5196: Effective 9/1/2025.
Allows administrative heads of agencies in the executive and judicial departments of state government to
enter into written annual agreements with employees authorizing telework to address a lack of available
office space or provide reasonable flexibility that enhances the agency’s ability to achieve its mission.
Requires agencies that allow employees to telework to develop a plan that addresses the agency’s
telework policies and procedures. Provides guidance on required telework plan inclusions. Prohibits
telework as a condition of employment. Prohibits a teleworking employee from conducting in-person
business at their personal residence. Requires agencies to post telework plans on their websites. See
Gov’t Code §§ 658.001, 658.010, 658.011, 658.012.
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Government Entity or Political Subdivision Cont’d
HB 5560: Effective 9/1/2025.
Authorizes groundwater conservation districts to set civil penalties for rule violations. Increases the
maximum amount of the civil penalty from $10,000 to $25,000 per day per violation. Specifies mitigating
and exacerbating circumstances courts are to consider in determining the appropriate civil penalties.
Allows for the imposition of a larger civil penalty in excess of the statutory maximum as necessary to
eliminate any financial benefit derived from a violation. Allows a court to defer up to 50 percent of
the civil penalty, conditioned upon compliance with terms requiring corrective action to address the
violation. Allows courts to authorize water and sewer utilities to recover civil penalties assessed against
the utility from any of their customers or class of customers, if those customers caused the utility to
violate a rule. See Water Code §§ 36.102, 36.1021, 36.1022.
SB 304: Effective 9/1/2025.
Allows a city to enact an ordinance permitting a municipal court to enforce health and safety and nuisance
abatement ordinances. See Gov’t Code § 29.003.
SB 1579: Effective 9/1/2025.
Creates a process by which certain municipalities may administratively determine that an undeveloped
parcel of land is abandoned and unoccupied and to take further action by allowing an aggrieved landowner
to seek judicial review of a resolution adopted by the municipality and requires the municipality to bring
a civil action to have certain undeveloped land into receivership. See Loc. Gov’t Code ch. 212.
SB 1666: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires the Department of Criminal Justice to transfer to the clerk of the court that entered an order of
restitution a restitution payment derived from unclaimed property for which a claim was filed. Shortens
the number of years after which restitution payments are considered abandoned. See Gov’t Code §§
493.035, 508.322.
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Guardianship and Mental Health
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Revises criteria and procedures for court-ordered temporary and extended inpatient mental health
services. See also Omnibus.
HB 3376: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires certain guardians to complete training on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and related disorders.
See Gov’t Code §§ 153.203, 155.204.
SB 53: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends various provisions of the Texas Mental Health Code related to filings and notice in court
proceedings involving persons with mental illness. See Health & Safety Code §§ 571.013, 571.014.
SB 387: Effective 9/1/2025.
Increases the bond to $500,000 for judges of county courts and statutory county courts who preside
over certain guardianship and probate proceedings. See Gov’t Code §§ 25.0006, 26.001.
SB 746: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits persons with an adverse interest to a ward from initiating or contesting guardianship or from
requesting or contesting the removal of a guardian. Authorizes the judge to appoint a guardian ad
litem to represent the interests of a proposed ward in a guardianship proceeding. Requires the court
to enter an order approving or disapproving the guardian’s annual account or report and imposes a
resubmission deadline of no more than 30 days if the court disapproves the account or report. See Est.
Code §§ 1002.013, 1054.051, 1054.054, 1054.056, 1055.001, 1163.051, 1163.051, 1163.104, 1163.104.
SB 1164: Effective 9/1/2025.
Streamlines the emergency detention process for individuals with a suspected mental illness by requiring
first responders to complete a standardized, detailed emergency detention notification form, outlined in
the bill, and by prohibiting treatment facilities from requiring any additional form. Expands the criteria
under which a court may order inpatient or extended mental health services based on a substantial risk
of serious harm to oneself or others to include persons exhibiting signs of severe emotional distress
and mental deterioration and persons evidencing an inability to recognize the need for treatment or to
appreciate the risks and benefits of treatment. Allows a county or district attorney to file an application
for court-ordered mental health services in the county where the person is apprehended or located at
the time the application is filed. Repeals provisions that required demonstrating a “substantial risk of
serious harm” in a certain way and that required a necessity for immediate restraint before the court
could order mental health services. See Health & Safety Code §§ 573.001, 573.002, 573.003, 573.012,
573.022, 574.001, 574.011, 574.034, 574.035, 574.064.
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Indigent Defense
HB 1445: Effective 9/1/2025.
Permits the director of a managed assigned counsel program to designate another individual to act
regarding expenses for appointed counsel on criminal proceedings. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.05.
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
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Judicial Compensation
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Revises compensation provisions applicable to assigned judges. Increases assigned judge compensation
to that of a district judge with comparable years of service as the retired judge or justice on the retired
judge or justice’s last day of service in judicial office. Allows a former or retired judge or justice assigned
as a judicial mentor to be compensated. Allows a statutory county court judge to count their years
of service as a full-time district court, multicounty statutory county court, or statutory probate court
associate judge. See also Omnibus.
HB 2529: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends the salary supplement from the state for certain county judges. See Gov’t Code § 26.006.
SB 293: Effective date varies.
Adds persistent or willful violation of the rules for setting bail under Article 17.15 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure and failure to meet deadlines, performance measures, or clearance rate requirements set by
statute, administrative rule or binding court order to the definition of willful or persistent misconduct
for the purposes of Section 1-a, Article V, Texas Constitution. Allows the State Commission on Judicial
Conduct (SCJC) to impose an administrative penalty for knowingly filing a false complaint. Requires SCJC
to conduct certain preliminary investigations and draft recommendations for commission action as soon
as practicable after a complaint has been filed. Shortens the timeframes for investigating and disposing
of complaints and allows SCJC to grant an additional extension for disposing of complaints under certain
circumstances. Sets a statute of limitations unless SCJC determines good cause exists for investigating
the complaint. Adds substance abuse as a cause of judicial incapacity. Revises the process for disposing
of complaints alleging judicial incapacity. Directs the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to establish a
judicial directory for use by SCJC to provide notices to judges. Requires the reporting of certain judicial
transparency information by district judges and requires OCA to provide administrative support for the
collection and dissemination of this information. Requires OCA to prepare and submit a report compiling
the information to certain offices. Increases the annual base salary of a district judge from $140,000 to
$175,000. Increase state salary supplements tied to the base pay of a district judge for a chief justice
or presiding judge of an appellate court, a business court judge who serves as administrative presiding
judge, and a local administrative district judge. Prohibits the state salary supplement of a chief justice
or presiding judge of an appellate court from counting toward the combined state and county pay.
Increases the supplement for local administrative judges based on number of counties served. Allows
business court judges to receive the maximum county supplement. Sets the standard service retirement
annuity for service credited in the elected class as the years of service, multiplied by 2.3 percent of
$175,000. Establishes certain limitations on the maximum annuity provided by the state. Amends how
retired judges that resume service as full-time judicial officers may rejoin the JRS 2 retirement plan. See
Gov’t Code ch. 33, subch. B; Gov’t Code ch. 72, subch. C; Gov’t Code §§ 665.052, 820.053, 834.102, 837.102,
837.103, 840.1025, 840.1027.
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Judicial Compensation Cont’d
SB 1738: Effective 9/1/2025, except Section 5 takes effect 5/15/2025.
Makes changes regarding the return to work of certain retired judicial officers. See Gov’t Code §§ 837.102,
837.103, 840.1025, 840.1027.
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Judicial Discipline
SB 293: Effective date varies.
Adds persistent or willful violation of the rules for setting bail under Article 17.15 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure and failure to meet deadlines, performance measures, or clearance rate requirements set by
statute, administrative rule or binding court order to the definition of willful or persistent misconduct
for the purposes of Section 1-a, Article V, Texas Constitution. Allows the State Commission on Judicial
Conduct (SCJC) to impose an administrative penalty for knowingly filing a false complaint. Requires SCJC
to conduct certain preliminary investigations and draft recommendations for commission action as soon
as practicable after a complaint has been filed. Shortens the timeframes for investigating and disposing
of complaints and allows SCJC to grant an additional extension for disposing of complaints under certain
circumstances. Sets a statute of limitations unless SCJC determines good cause exists for investigating
the complaint. Adds substance abuse as a cause of judicial incapacity. Revises the process for disposing
of complaints alleging judicial incapacity. Directs the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to establish a
judicial directory for use by SCJC to provide notices to judges. Requires the reporting of certain judicial
transparency information by district judges and requires OCA to provide administrative support for the
collection and dissemination of this information. Requires OCA to prepare and submit a report compiling
the information to certain offices. Increases the annual base salary of a district judge from $140,000 to
$175,000. Increase state salary supplements tied to the base pay of a district judge for a chief justice
or presiding judge of an appellate court, a business court judge who serves as administrative presiding
judge, and a local administrative district judge. Prohibits the state salary supplement of a chief justice
or presiding judge of an appellate court from counting toward the combined state and county pay.
Increases the supplement for local administrative judges based on number of counties served. Allows
business court judges to receive the maximum county supplement. Sets the standard service retirement
annuity for service credited in the elected class as the years of service, multiplied by 2.3 percent of
$175,000. Establishes certain limitations on the maximum annuity provided by the state. Amends how
retired judges that resume service as full-time judicial officers may rejoin the JRS 2 retirement plan. See
Gov’t Code ch. 33, subch. B; Gov’t Code ch. 72, subch. C; Gov’t Code §§ 665.052, 820.053, 834.102, 837.102,
837.103, 840.1025, 840.1027.
SB 664: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends various provisions of Ch. 54, Government Code, regarding the qualifications of masters,
magistrates, referees, associate judges, and hearing officers appointed under the chapter. Requires
a Chapter 54 judicial officer whose duties include bail decisions to comply with certain bail training
requirements. Authorizes the removal of Ch. 54 judicial officers under Section 24, Article V of the Texas
Constitution. Requires a local administrative judge to ensure a Ch. 54 judicial officer complies with certain
requirements. Requires the local administrative judge to report certain violations to the commissioners
court, the regional administrative presiding judge, the Office of Court Administration, and the State
Commission on Judicial Conduct. Requires a local administrative judge to supervise the performance of
Ch. 54 judicial officers. See Gov’t Code ch. 54, subch. A; Gov’t Code §§ 54A.003, 54A.103, 54A.305, 74.092.
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Judicial Discipline Cont’d
SJR 27: Election Date is 11/4/2025. Enabling legislation is SB 293.
Amends the Texas Constitution to: change State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) composition,
residency requirements, and regular terms of office; expand and alter SCJC remedial power; and permit
the SCJC to recommend to the Supreme Court that a judge or justice be suspended with or without pay
pending final disposition of a charge.
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
89th Legislature
Jurisdiction and Venue
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Adjusts the geographic jurisdiction of the Texas Business Court to include Bastrop County. See also
Omnibus.
HB 40: Effective 9/1/2025.
Authorizes but did not appropriate funding for six new business courts divisions (2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th,
10th). Reduces the threshold of certain disputes eligible for consideration by the business court to $5
million. Expands the list of actions over which business courts have civil jurisdiction concurrent with
district courts. Entitles business court judges to reimbursement for travel and certain other expenses.
Amends the compensation for the administrative presiding judge of the business court and for business
court judges. Entitles a county to seek reimbursement for business court accommodations, including
security costs. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code, various chs.; Gov’t Code, various chs.
HB 272: Effective 9/1/2025.
Permits prosecution for fraudulent use or possession of credit card of debit card information to permit
prosecution in any county in which the offense was committed or a victim’s county of residence. See
Penal Code § 13A.2551; Code Crim. Proc. art. 38.19.
HB 1916: Effective 9/1/2025.
Clarifies that jurisdiction regarding certain property remains with the court that rendered a final decree
of divorce or annulment. See Fam. Code § 9.201.
HB 2760: Effective 9/1/2025.
Allows aggrieved parties to file for judicial review of a Texas Workforce Commission decision in an
unemployment compensation proceeding in either a county court of law or a district court. See Lab. Code
§ 212.201(a).
HB 2960: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires an action arising out of certain contracts, to the extent the venue provision in the contract is
void, to be brought only in Texas in the county in which the property subject to the suit is located, unless
the parties stipulate otherwise after the suit arises. See Bus. & Com. Code § 272.001; Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code
§ 15.020.
HB 4170: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides that the venue for certain actions involving private transfer fees for real property must be
brought in the county where the real property is located, unless the action is brought by the attorney
general. See Prop. Code § 5.208.
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Jurisdiction and Venue Cont’d
SB 38: Effective dates vary.
Amends the Property Code to revise, remove, and repeal provisions regarding the eviction process in
Texas, in relation to jurisdiction and venue, computation of time, the authority to modify or suspend
eviction procedures, notice, and other various matters. Requires the Supreme Court to adopt certain
rules to clarify evictions procedures relating to eviction suits. See Prop. Code ch. 24.
SB 1220: Effective 6/20/2025.
Adds a new section to the Government Code regarding subject matter jurisdiction of criminal trial courts
not conditioned on exhaustion of civil remedies. See Gov’t Code § 23.002.
SB 2411: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends and adds several sections to the Business Organizations Code to address various matters
related to business entities. Clarifies that any reference in any section of code to jurisdiction of the
district courts is not a deprivation of the jurisdiction vested in the business courts over certain disputes.
Requires that any entity claim be brought in a Texas court. Clarifies a corporation’s rights with respect to
certain written demands related to pending derivative proceedings. Authorizes a for-profit corporation’s
board of directors to allow the formation of committees of independent and disinterested directors and
allows interested parties to seek declaratory relief as to whether the members of such a committee are,
in fact, disinterested. See Bus. Orgs. Code, various chs.
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Texas Judiciary Legislative Update
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Jury Service and Grand Jury Service
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies procedures and practices of a district clerk for summoning jurors. See also Omnibus.
HB 2637: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends practices, procedures, and terminology for summoning prospective grand jurors and petit
jurors and exemptions from jury service. Amends information a district court clerk must prepare and
submit every month to include additional jury disqualification details. Provides a permanent exemption
from jury service for people older than 75. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 19A; Gov’t Code ch. 62.
HB 4749: Effective 9/1/2025.
Permits counties with populations below 1,000 to draw names for the jury wheel from eligible residents
of contiguous counties within the same judicial district and modifies grand and petit jury qualifications
accordingly. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 19A.01.
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Justice Courts and Municipal Courts
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies the residency requirements for certain municipal court judges. Requires a local court security
committee to make recommendations to local government, including by developing a court emergency
management plan. Requires a court security committee to meet periodically and provides that the
committee is not a governmental body for open meetings or public information purposes. Requires OCA’s
Judicial Security Division to develop a model court emergency management plan. Modifies procedures
for youth diversion of Class C misdemeanor offenses. See also Omnibus.
HB 1950: Effective 5/29/2025.
Exempts municipalities with populations below 100,000 from maintaining municipal court building
security funds or municipal court technology funds. Creates new consolidated municipal court
building security and technology funds for municipalities with populations below 100,000 and makes
accompanying changes. See Code Crim. Proc. arts. 102.017, 102.0172, 102.0175; Loc. Gov’t Code § 134.103.
HB 5081: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides protection of personally identifying information of specified judiciary employees. Prohibits
the publication of personally identifying information of those individuals, their children, and their
immediate family members, subject to certain exceptions for data brokers, consumer credit reporting,
law enforcement, journalism, voluntary disclosure, and under other circumstances. Prohibits a person,
including a data broker, from publicly posting protected information on a publicly accessible website,
after the protected person submitted a written request that the information not be disclosed, subject
to certain exceptions. Creates an affirmative duty to remove information from a website within 10 days
after receiving a request to do so from a protected person. Requires the judicial security division of the
Office of Court Administration, subject to appropriation, to develop a process by which a judge can file
a written request with the administrative director of the Office to notify a person that they must remove
protected information from a publicly available website. Provides for civil remedies, including injunctive
relief, a fine, and exemplary damages, court costs and attorney’s fees to a protected person whose
protected information is displayed in violation of the law. Designates a violation of the prohibitions on
disclosing, displaying, or transferring personally identifiable information about a protected person as a
Class B misdemeanor or a Class A misdemeanor if the disclosure results in bodily injury to a protected
person or their immediate family member. See Gov’t Code ch. 92.
SB 251: Effective 6/20/2025.
Authorizes the Commissioners Court of Bell County to hire magistrates to serve the courts with criminal
jurisdiction in the county. Requires the Commissioners Court to set the qualifications, salary, benefits,
and compensation of each magistrate position. Specifies that the qualifications must include experience
serving as a justice of the peace or a municipal court judge, or licensure to practice law in Texas in good
standing for at least two years. Specifies the jurisdiction, powers, and duties of the magistrates. See Gov’t
Code ch. 54; Code Crim. Proc. art. 2A.151.
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Justice Courts and Municipal Courts Cont’d
SB 304: Effective 9/1/2025.
Allows a city to enact an ordinance permitting a municipal court to enforce health and safety and nuisance
abatement ordinances. See Gov’t Code § 29.003.
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Juvenile Justice
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Modifies procedures for youth diversion of Class C misdemeanor offenses. Amends the diversion and
detention policy for certain juveniles and makes changes to what a juvenile board shall prioritize. Makes
an arrest warrant and complaint/affidavit for which an arrest warrant is based for a child confidential
except to certain parties. See also Omnibus.
SB 1019: Effective 9/1/2025.
Authorizes the testimony of an outcry witness in juvenile court proceedings involving the adjudication
of certain sexual and assaultive offenses if the victim is 18 years of age or younger (increased from 12
years or younger) or a “person with a disability,” a term the bill redefines to have the same meaning as
“disabled individual” as defined by Section 22.04 of the Texas Penal Code. See Fam. Code § 54.031(a) and
(d).
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Magistrate Duties
HB 75: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires an arresting magistrate, having determined that no probable cause exists to believe that a
person committed the offense for which they were arrested, enter support of their findings in the written
record within 24 hours of their determination. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 15.17.
SB 251: Effective 6/20/2025.
Authorizes the Commissioners Court of Bell County to hire magistrates to serve the courts with criminal
jurisdiction in the county. Requires the Commissioners Court to set the qualifications, salary, benefits,
and compensation of each magistrate position. Specifies that the qualifications must include experience
serving as a justice of the peace or a municipal court judge, or licensure to practice law in Texas in good
standing for at least two years. Specifies the jurisdiction, powers, and duties of the magistrates. See Gov’t
Code ch. 54; Code Crim. Proc. art. 2A.151.
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Office of Court Administration
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Requires OCA to hold an annual leadership conference for various members of the judiciary to provide
information related to court budgets and operational funding, court activity statistics and case-level
information on the amount and character of the business transacted by the state trial courts, the duties
of a local administrative judge, and other matters related to court administration. Requires OCA to
conduct a study on digital court recording. Requires prosecuting attorneys to report certain information
on caseload, staffing, and bail to OCA. Allows the OCA director to develop alternative performance
measures for probate and mental health matters. See also Omnibus.
HB 5081: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides protection of personally identifying information of specified judiciary employees. Prohibits
the publication of personally identifying information of those individuals, their children, and their
immediate family members, subject to certain exceptions for data brokers, consumer credit reporting,
law enforcement, journalism, voluntary disclosure, and under other circumstances. Prohibits a person,
including a data broker, from publicly posting protected information on a publicly accessible website,
after the protected person submitted a written request that the information not be disclosed, subject
to certain exceptions. Creates an affirmative duty to remove information from a website within 10 days
after receiving a request to do so from a protected person. Requires the judicial security division of the
Office of Court Administration, subject to appropriation, to develop a process by which a judge can file
a written request with the administrative director of the Office to notify a person that they must remove
protected information from a publicly available website. Provides for civil remedies, including injunctive
relief, a fine, and exemplary damages, court costs and attorney’s fees to a protected person whose
protected information is displayed in violation of the law. Designates a violation of the prohibitions on
disclosing, displaying, or transferring personally identifiable information about a protected person as a
Class B misdemeanor or a Class A misdemeanor if the disclosure results in bodily injury to a protected
person or their immediate family member. See Gov’t Code ch. 92.
HB 5196: Effective 9/1/2025.
Allows administrative heads of agencies in the executive and judicial departments of state government to
enter into written annual agreements with employees authorizing telework to address a lack of available
office space or provide reasonable flexibility that enhances the agency’s ability to achieve its mission.
Requires agencies that allow employees to telework to develop a plan that addresses the agency’s
telework policies and procedures. Provides guidance on required telework plan inclusions. Prohibits
telework as a condition of employment. Prohibits a teleworking employee from conducting in-person
business at their personal residence. Requires agencies to post telework plans on their websites. See
Gov’t Code §§ 658.001, 658.010, 658.011, 658.012.
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SB 9: Effective date varies.
Requires Public Safety Report System (PSRS) to show whether a defendant is on community supervision,
parole, mandatory supervision, released on bail, or participating in certain pretrial intervention programs,
and provide certain warrant and protective order information. Permits a magistrate to order, prepare, or
consider a PSRS report in setting bail for certain defendants not in custody. Amends the release on bail
of defendants charged with a felony offense. Creates a review of bail process for certain bail decisions.
Requires the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to configure the PSRS to allow a county or municipality
to integrate a county’s jail record management system and case management system with the PSRS.
Authorizes OCA to provide grants for systems integration. Requires charitable bail organizations to
report certain information to OCA and requires OCA to report to the appropriate sheriff information
about suspected violations of Article 17.071. Requires a judge to make an affirmative finding in the
disposition of a criminal case involving any offense punishable as a Class B misdemeanor or higher if
the judge determines the defendant willfully failed to appear after the defendant was released from
custody. Permits the state to appeal a court order granting bail in an amount considered insufficient by
the prosecuting attorney for certain charged offenses. See Code Crim. Proc. chs. 16, 17, 27, 42, 44, 56A;
Gov’t Code § 72.038; Hum. Res. Code § 51A.003.
SB 66: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires the Office of Court Administration to conduct a study on the legal and ethical implications of
authorizing a supporter under a supported decision-making agreement to assist an adult with a disability
with legal proceedings in which the adult is involved.
SB 293: Effective date varies.
Adds persistent or willful violation of the rules for setting bail under Article 17.15 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure and failure to meet deadlines, performance measures, or clearance rate requirements set by
statute, administrative rule or binding court order to the definition of willful or persistent misconduct
for the purposes of Section 1-a, Article V, Texas Constitution. Allows the State Commission on Judicial
Conduct (SCJC) to impose an administrative penalty for knowingly filing a false complaint. Requires SCJC
to conduct certain preliminary investigations and draft recommendations for commission action as soon
as practicable after a complaint has been filed. Shortens the timeframes for investigating and disposing
of complaints and allows SCJC to grant an additional extension for disposing of complaints under certain
circumstances. Sets a statute of limitations unless SCJC determines good cause exists for investigating
the complaint. Adds substance abuse as a cause of judicial incapacity. Revises the process for disposing
of complaints alleging judicial incapacity. Directs the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to establish a
judicial directory for use by SCJC to provide notices to judges. Requires the reporting of certain judicial
transparency information by district judges and requires OCA to provide administrative support for the
collection and dissemination of this information. Requires OCA to prepare and submit a report compiling
the information to certain offices. Increases the annual base salary of a district judge from $140,000 to
$175,000. Increase state salary supplements tied to the base pay of a district judge for a chief justice
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or presiding judge of an appellate court, a business court judge who serves as administrative presiding
judge, and a local administrative district judge. Prohibits the state salary supplement of a chief justice
or presiding judge of an appellate court from counting toward the combined state and county pay.
Increases the supplement for local administrative judges based on number of counties served. Allows
business court judges to receive the maximum county supplement. Sets the standard service retirement
annuity for service credited in the elected class as the years of service, multiplied by 2.3 percent of
$175,000. Establishes certain limitations on the maximum annuity provided by the state. Amends how
retired judges that resume service as full-time judicial officers may rejoin the JRS 2 retirement plan. See
Gov’t Code ch. 33, subch. B; Gov’t Code ch. 72, subch. C; Gov’t Code §§ 665.052, 820.053, 834.102, 837.102,
837.103, 840.1025, 840.1027.
SB 664: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends various provisions of Ch. 54, Government Code, regarding the qualifications of masters,
magistrates, referees, associate judges, and hearing officers appointed under the chapter. Requires
a Chapter 54 judicial officer whose duties include bail decisions to comply with certain bail training
requirements. Authorizes the removal of Ch. 54 judicial officers under Section 24, Article V of the Texas
Constitution. Requires a local administrative judge to ensure a Ch. 54 judicial officer complies with certain
requirements. Requires the local administrative judge to report certain violations to the commissioners
court, the regional administrative presiding judge, the Office of Court Administration, and the State
Commission on Judicial Conduct. Requires a local administrative judge to supervise the performance of
Ch. 54 judicial officers. See Gov’t Code ch. 54, subch. A; Gov’t Code §§ 54A.003, 54A.103, 54A.305, 74.092.
SB 1574: Effective 9/1/2025.
Requires the Texas Judicial Council to establish by rule a centers for excellence program to identify,
support, and recognize justices and judges who excel in serving their communities and representing the
judiciary. Specifies criteria the council must consider in in awarding a center of excellence recognition.
See Gov’t Code § 71.040.
SB 1620: Effective 9/1/2025.
Directs the Office of Court Administration (OCA) to establish the Texas forensic analyst apprenticeship
pilot program to increase the forensic science workforce capacity in the state. Directs OCA and the
Forensic Science Commission (FSC) to collaborate to administer the pilot program and requires FSC to
adopt certain rules in connection to the program. See Gov’t Code, ch. 72, subch. H.
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Omnibus
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Establishes new judicial districts in various counties, including Brazoria, Comal, Ellis, Fort Bend, Harris,
Montgomery, Rockwall, Lavaca, Colorado, and Williamson counties. Creates a Maverick County Court
at Law, County Civil Court at Law No. 5 of Harris County, and Probate Court No. 2 of Hidalgo County.
Modifies jurisdictional limits for statutory county courts, increasing the maximum amount in controversy
for civil cases to $325,000 and adjusting concurrent jurisdiction with district courts. Requires a local
court security committee to make recommendations to local government, including by developing a
court emergency management plan, and provides that the committee is not a governmental body for
open meetings or public information purposes. Requires OCA’s Judicial Security Division to develop a
model court emergency management plan. Amends various compensation provisions applicable to
assigned judges, including compensation provisions for former or retired judges and justices serving
on assignment and compensation provisions for former or retired judge or justice serving as judicial
mentor. Revises criteria and procedures for court-ordered temporary and extended inpatient mental
health services. Ensures the Texas Supreme Court has full rulemaking power in civil actions by repealing
all laws and parts of laws governing practice and procedure in civil actions enacted before May 15,
1939. Repeals various statutes in the Civil Practice and Remedies Code that provide that governing
chapters cannot be modified or repealed by a rule adopted by the Supreme Court. Creates an annual
leadership conference sponsored by OCA to provide information to local administrative district judges.
Requires OCA to conduct a study on digital court recording. Modifies various fees charged for certain
filings. Modifies the hearing timelines and reporting requirements for a motion for summary judgement.
Protects the personal information of judges, court employees, and related officials by allowing redaction
of sensitive information from public records and licenses. Adjusts the geographic jurisdiction of the
Texas Business Court to include Bastrop County.
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Open Records and Open Meetings
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Requires a court security committee to meet periodically and provides that the committee is not a
governmental body for open meetings or public information purposes. See also Omnibus.
HB 5238: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits a person from creating an electronic disturbance, including hacking, in a lawful virtual meeting,
procession, or gathering with intent to prevent or disrupt it. Designates a violation of the prohibition as
a Class B misdemeanor. See Penal Code § 42.05.
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Other Laws and Regulations
HB 18 (2nd Called Session): Effective 12/4/2025.
Creates certain restrictions on political contributions to and expenditures for members of the legislature
related to certain impending absences. Creates a civil penalty related to the bill’s prohibitions and requires
a district court to enter an order imposing the penalty under certain circumstances. Gives 15th Court
of Appeals exclusive intermediate appellate jurisdiction over matters relating out of the subchapter
created by the bill. See Gov’t Code ch. 301, sub. G.
HB 2760: Effective 9/1/2025.
Allows aggrieved parties to file for judicial review of a Texas Workforce Commission decision in an
unemployment compensation proceeding in either a county court of law or a district court. See Lab. Code
§ 212.201(a).
HB 4063: Effective 9/1/2025.
Establishes a process for filing and releasing a unilateral memorandum of contract (as defined)
concerning residential property, provides specific forms for the certificates of mailing and affidavits,
and stipulates that for memoranda filed on or after September 1, 2025, failure to comply with the filing
requirements will render a contract, option, or right asserted to exist by memorandum unenforceable
against a purchaser or lender. See Prop. Code § 12.020.
SB 14: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides in part that a court is not required to give deference to a state agency’s legal determination
regarding the construction, validity, or applicability of the law or a rule adopted by the state agency
responsible for the rule’s administration, implementation, or enforcement. Provides that in any matter
brought under Subchapter G, Chapter 2001, Gov’t Code, the reviewing court must review all questions of
law de novo. See Gov’t Code §§ 2001.042, 2001.1721.
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Probate, Trusts, and Estates
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Authorizes the assignment of a former or retired appellate justice to a statutory probate court. See also
Omnibus.
HB 3421: Effective 9/1/2025.
Relates to decedent’s estates and other matters involving probate court. See Est. Code chs. 31, 256, 309,
354, 452, 453; Gov’t Code § 80.002.
SB 1335: Effective 9/1/2025.
Amends provisions relating to the issuance and cancellation of letters testamentary or of administration.
Clarifies required service of process on a personal representative prior to removal on a court’s motion
or on the complaint of an interested party. Specifies the effects of the court’s discharge of a personal
representative, independent executor, or independent administrator upon closing an estate. See Est.
Code §§ 306.007, 361.052, 362.013, 405.001, 405.009.
SB 1448: Effective 9/1/2025.
Clarifies the law relating to decedents’ estates and facilitates procedures relating to probate proceedings,
probated wills, and the administration of certain estates. See Est. Code §§ 33.105, 51.057, 256.156, 256.202,
309.051, 309.052, 354.001, 452.006, 453.003; Gov’t Code § 80.002.
SB 1760: Effective 9/1/2025.
Revises procedures for transferring a guardianship from a court in one county to another. Creates a fee
for filing the case with the clerk of the court which receives a transferred case. Creates a receipt form.
Imposes certain duties upon guardians. Grants courts the power to order a guardian to spend money
from the ward’s estate for the education and maintenance of the ward’s minor children or incapacitated
adult children. Requires guardians of an estate to attach certain statements with annual accounts.
Revises certain provisions relating to the closing of the estate of the guardianship and the discharge of
the guardian. See Est. Code, various chs.
SB 1839: Effective 9/1/2025.
Specifies how a will is sent when a probate matter is transferred to another county’s court. Requires the
party requesting the transfer to pay the cost of the delivery. See Est. Code § 33.105.
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Protective Orders
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Clarifies the court that may modify an order for emergency protection issued under the Code of Criminal
Procedure. Allows an applicant for emergency protection to request the county of residence to remain
confidential on the application. See also Omnibus.
HB 793: Effective 9/1/2025.
Replaces permissive language with mandatory language regarding protective order confidentiality. Adds
a requirement that courts inform protected persons and their family or household members of their
rights to confidentiality. See Fam. Code §§ 82.011, 85.007, 87.004.
SB 1120: Effective 9/1/2025.
Expands crime victims’ rights in cases involving “family violence,” a term the bill aligns with specific
offenses, to include the right to a disclosure of information regarding any evidence collected or tested
during the investigation and prosecution of the offense, and the right to be informed and to confer with
the prosecutor about the disposition of the case, a plea bargain agreement, a decision not to prosecute,
or the use of a pretrial intervention program, among other rights. Extends the duration of certain
protective orders to two years after the final divorce decree, the final order in a suit affecting the parentchild relationship, or the final disposition in a criminal case. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 56A.0521; Fam. Code
§ 85.025.
SB 1362: Effective 9/1/2025.
Prohibits recognition, service, and enforcement of extreme risk protective orders. Prohibits public
adoption or enforcement of extreme risk protective orders unless authorized by state law. Deems
certain federal laws regarding extreme risk protective orders unenforceable and prohibits accepting
grant funding for their implementation, service, or enforcement. Creates a new state jail felony offense
for service, enforcement, or attempted service or enforcement of extreme risk protective orders, except
those issued under state law. See Code Crim. Proc. ch. 7C.
SB 1559: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides that a protective order issued to protect a person from family violence prevails over other
orders rendered in a suit for dissolution of a marriage or a suit affecting the parent-child relationship and
is subject to transfer. Requires each protective order to include a prominent statement that it prevails
over other orders. Requires a court, on the motion of a party or on the court’s motion, to transfer a
protective order to the court with jurisdiction over a suit for dissolution of a marriage or a suit affecting
a parent-child relationship, if the transferring court finds the transfer will not negatively impact the
safety of a person protected by the order. Requires service of a motion to transfer on all parties, an
opportunity to respond, and a hearing on the motion. Provides each person who is protected by the
order an opportunity to submit a statement on the impact of the transfer on their safety. Requires
courts to consider the impact statement when determining whether to order the transfer. Requires
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each transfer order to include a finding that the transfer will not adversely affect the safety of a person
protected by the order. Repeals inconsistent provisions. See Fam. Code §§81.012, 83.005, 85.026, 85.064.
SB 2196: Effective 9/1/2025.
Modifies durations for a magistrate’s order for emergency protection. See Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.292.
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Records
HB 4795: Effective 9/1/2025 but applies only to requests for information received on or after 1/1/26.
Allows the Department of Family and Protective Services to request information from the vital statistics
unit of the Department of State Health Services regarding a child who has been the subject of a lawsuit.
Requires the vital statistics unit to establish an electronic process for the Department of State Health
Services to request information. See Fam. Code §§ 155.101, 160.422.
HB 5081: Effective 9/1/2025.
Provides protection of personally identifying information of specified judiciary employees. Prohibits
the publication of personally identifying information of those individuals, their children, and their
immediate family members, subject to certain exceptions for data brokers, consumer credit reporting,
law enforcement, journalism, voluntary disclosure, and under other circumstances. Prohibits a person,
including a data broker, from publicly posting protected information on a publicly accessible website,
after the protected person submitted a written request that the information not be disclosed, subject
to certain exceptions. Creates an affirmative duty to remove information from a website within 10 days
after receiving a request to do so from a protected person. Requires the judicial security division of the
Office of Court Administration, subject to appropriation, to develop a process by which a judge can file
a written request with the administrative director of the Office to notify a person that they must remove
protected information from a publicly available website. Provides for civil remedies, including injunctive
relief, a fine, and exemplary damages, court costs and attorney’s fees to a protected person whose
protected information is displayed in violation of the law. Designates a violation of the prohibitions on
disclosing, displaying, or transferring personally identifiable information about a protected person as a
Class B misdemeanor or a Class A misdemeanor if the disclosure results in bodily injury to a protected
person or their immediate family member. See Gov’t Code ch. 92.
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Specialty Courts
HB 16 (2nd Called Session): Effective dates vary.
Requires a specialty court to submit to the Office of Court Administration a program policy manual,
participant handbook, or operation plan, rather than a strategic plan. Adjusts the geographic jurisdiction
of the Texas Business Court to include Bastrop County. See also Omnibus.
HB 40: Effective 9/1/2025.
Authorizes but did not appropriate funding for six new business courts divisions (2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th,
10th). Reduces the threshold of certain disputes eligible for consideration by the business court to $5
million. Expands the list of actions over which business courts have civil jurisdiction concurrent with
district courts. Entitles business court judges to reimbursement for travel and certain other expenses.
Amends the compensation for the administrative presiding judge of the business court and for business
court judges. Entitles a county to seek reimbursement for business court accommodations, including
security costs. See Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code, various chs.; Gov’t Code, various chs.
SB 1667: Effective 6/20/2025.
Requires defendants to submit an ex parte petition to obtain an expunction order upon successful
completion of a veterans treatment program or a mental health court program. Imposes limits on a
petition for an expunction. Requires district clerks to compile and maintain on their respective website
a list of agencie
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