S.B. No. 293 is a legislative bill designed to enhance the discipline and accountability of judges in Texas through various amendments to the Government Code. It introduces a clear definition of "willful or persistent conduct" that is inconsistent with a judge's duties, specifically including the failure to meet statutory or court-ordered deadlines. The bill also establishes administrative penalties for individuals who knowingly file false complaints against judges, with escalating fines from $500 for the first offense to up to $10,000 for subsequent offenses. Additionally, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct is required to maintain detailed records of complaints and notify judges about the status of complaints against them, ensuring transparency in the reprimand process.

Moreover, the bill mandates that judges convicted of felonies or misdemeanors involving official misconduct will be suspended without pay during the appeal process. It requires district court judges to submit quarterly reports on their judicial hours and duties, which will be compiled for state officials. The bill also raises the minimum annual base salary for district court judges from $140,000 to $161,000 and sets stricter eligibility criteria for retired judges on a potential assignment list. The definition of "incompetency" is expanded to include persistent or willful violations of legal codes. The changes outlined in the bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, following the adoption of implementing rules by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and the Texas Supreme Court.

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 665, Government Code 33, Government Code 74, Government Code 659, Government Code 814, Government Code 834)