The bill, S.B. No. 302, introduces new provisions regarding the reimbursement of costs associated with the assignment of statutory probate court judges in Texas. It adds Section 352.054 to the Estates Code, which mandates that a judge assigned to hear a contested matter must order the estate to reimburse the county for any compensation and expenses incurred by the county in accordance with the newly added Section 25.0022(o-1) of the Government Code. This section specifies that if a party files a motion for the assignment of a judge and it is granted, the judge must ensure that the county is reimbursed for its costs from the estate and the parties involved in the proceeding.

Additionally, the bill amends Subsection (p) of Section 25.0022 to clarify that the county responsible for paying the judge's additional compensation for serving outside their county of residence will do so subject to the new reimbursement requirements. The bill stipulates that these changes will only apply to motions filed on or after the effective date of September 1, 2025, while motions filed prior to this date will be governed by the existing law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 25.0022 (Government Code 25)