The bill, H.B. No. 1363, aims to implement mandatory implicit bias training for justices, judges, judicial officers, court personnel, and attorneys in Texas. It amends Chapter 56 of the Government Code to establish a Judicial and Court Personnel Training Fund and introduces a new Subchapter B focused on Judicial Training. The bill specifies that individuals subject to this training must complete a course covering various aspects of implicit bias, including its social science background, historical context, and strategies to mitigate its effects in the legal system. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is tasked with approving the training courses and ensuring compliance.

Additionally, the bill mandates that attorneys complete continuing education on implicit bias and bias-reducing strategies, requiring one hour of training for each compliance period. The State Bar of Texas will approve these courses, which must address the impact of implicit bias on the legal system and provide practical skills for serving diverse communities. The bill also sets deadlines for the adoption of necessary rules and stipulates that current justices and judges must complete their training by January 1, 2028. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 56.005, Government Code 56.006, Government Code 56.007 (Government Code 56)
House Committee Report: Government Code 56.005, Government Code 56.006, Government Code 56.007 (Government Code 56)