S.B. No. 293 aims to enhance judicial discipline, transparency, and the handling of complaints against judges by amending various sections of the Government Code. Key provisions include the requirement for courts to participate in teleconferenced oral arguments from designated courtrooms unless exigent circumstances arise, and the establishment of specific timeframes for hearing motions for summary judgment, with compliance reporting to the Office of Court Administration. The bill also clarifies definitions related to judges and misconduct, including the addition of "justice of the peace" to the definition of a judge and the introduction of "official misconduct" as defined by the Code of Criminal Procedure. Furthermore, it sets a seven-year statute of limitations for filing complaints against judges and introduces administrative penalties for false complaints.

Additionally, the bill updates eligibility criteria and compensation for judges, increasing the annual base salary for district court judges from $140,000 to $175,000, and establishes new salary structures for appellate justices. It also introduces provisions for the Texas Ethics Commission to consider equitable increases in retirement annuities and allows retirees who return to judicial service to rejoin the retirement system under certain conditions. The bill mandates the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to adopt necessary rules by March 1, 2026, with most provisions taking effect on September 1, 2025, ensuring that the new rules govern future cases while maintaining the applicability of existing laws for past actions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 33.001, Government Code 33.0211, Government Code 33.0212, Government Code 33.0213, Government Code 33.022, Government Code 33.034, Government Code 33.037, Government Code 74.055, Government Code 659.012, Government Code 665.052, Government Code 814.103, Government Code 834.102 (Government Code 659, Government Code 834, Government Code 814, Government Code 665, Government Code 74, Government Code 33)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 33.001, Government Code 33.0211, Government Code 33.0212, Government Code 33.0213, Government Code 33.022, Government Code 33.032, Government Code 33.033, Government Code 33.023, Government Code 33.034, Government Code 33.037, Government Code 74.055, Government Code 659.012, Government Code 665.052, Government Code 814.103, Government Code 834.102, Government Code 837.102, Government Code 837.103, Government Code 840.1025, Government Code 840.1027 (Government Code 659, Government Code 834, Government Code 814, Government Code 665, Government Code 74, Government Code 837, Government Code 840, Government Code 33)
Engrossed: Government Code 33.001, Government Code 33.0211, Government Code 33.0212, Government Code 33.0213, Government Code 33.022, Government Code 33.032, Government Code 33.033, Government Code 33.023, Government Code 33.034, Government Code 33.037, Government Code 74.055, Government Code 659.012, Government Code 665.052, Government Code 814.103, Government Code 834.102, Government Code 837.102, Government Code 837.103, Government Code 840.1025, Government Code 840.1027 (Government Code 659, Government Code 834, Government Code 814, Government Code 665, Government Code 74, Government Code 837, Government Code 840, Government Code 33)
House Committee Report: Government Code 22.302, Government Code 33.001, Government Code 33.0211, Government Code 33.0212, Government Code 33.0213, Government Code 33.022, Government Code 33.023, Government Code 33.032, Government Code 33.033, Government Code 33.034, Government Code 33.037, Government Code 73.003, Government Code 74.055, Government Code 659.012, Government Code 665.052, Government Code 814.103, Government Code 820.053, Government Code 834.102, Government Code 837.102, Government Code 837.103, Government Code 840.1025, Government Code 840.1027 (Government Code 659, Government Code 834, Government Code 73, Government Code 814, Government Code 820, Government Code 22, Government Code 665, Government Code 74, Government Code 837, Government Code 840, Government Code 33)
Enrolled: Government Code 22.302, Government Code 33.001, Government Code 33.0211, Government Code 33.0212, Government Code 33.0213, Government Code 33.022, Government Code 33.023, Government Code 33.034, Government Code 33.037, Government Code 73.003, Government Code 74.055, Government Code 659.012, Government Code 665.052, Government Code 814.103, Government Code 820.053, Government Code 834.102, Government Code 837.102, Government Code 837.103, Government Code 840.1025, Government Code 840.1027 (Government Code 659, Government Code 834, Government Code 73, Government Code 814, Government Code 820, Government Code 22, Government Code 665, Government Code 74, Government Code 837, Government Code 840, Government Code 33)