The bill amends Section 25.0212 of the Government Code to enhance the jurisdiction of the County Court at Law in Bowie County. It establishes that this court has concurrent jurisdiction with district courts over various matters, including specialty court programs, misdemeanor cases, family law cases (including juvenile matters), and probate and guardianship matters. Additionally, it specifies that the jury in civil or criminal matters will typically consist of 12 members, but in misdemeanor cases and other cases with concurrent jurisdiction, the jury will consist of six members. The bill also allows judges from the county court at law and district court to transfer cases between their courts similarly to how district court judges currently transfer cases.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the compensation structure for the official court reporter of the county court at law, ensuring they receive the same compensation as district court reporters, including an annual salary set by the county court judge and approved by the commissioners court. It also repeals a subsection of the existing law, streamlining the jurisdictional framework for the county court at law. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 25.0212 (Government Code 25)