H.B. No. 2064 aims to strengthen the disciplinary framework for judges in Texas by amending the Government Code to enhance judicial accountability and transparency. The bill provides a clearer definition of "willful or persistent conduct" that is inconsistent with a judge's duties, explicitly including the failure to meet statutory or court-ordered deadlines. It also introduces a provision that allows the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to impose administrative penalties on individuals who knowingly file false complaints, with penalties increasing based on the number of false complaints. Additionally, the commission is required to maintain detailed records of complaints and notify judges about the status of complaints against them, ensuring greater transparency in the process.

The bill further 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 report their judicial hours and activities quarterly, with presiding judges compiling this information for submission to the supreme court. The legislation also modifies eligibility criteria for retired judges, increasing the minimum annual base salary for district court judges from $140,000 to $161,000, and establishes provisions regarding retirement annuities for judges who retired before September 1, 2025. H.B. No. 2064 is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and includes provisions for the implementation of new rules and guidelines by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct and the Texas Supreme Court.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 330.001, 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 834, Government Code 74, Government Code 659, Government Code 665, Government Code 814, Government Code 33, Government Code 330)