House Bill No. 5060 seeks to improve the judicial system in Texas by establishing new judicial districts and modifying existing jurisdictional provisions for county courts. The bill creates the 490th and 491st Judicial Districts in Brazoria County, along with the 501st, 502nd, and 503rd Judicial Districts in Fort Bend and Rockwall Counties, all set to begin operations between September 1, 2025, and September 1, 2026. Additionally, it expands the jurisdiction of county courts at law in counties such as Atascosa, Bowie, and Hidalgo, allowing them to handle a wider array of civil and criminal cases, including concurrent jurisdiction with district courts in family law and juvenile matters. The bill also updates compensation structures for judges and court reporters to align with those serving district courts.

Moreover, the bill introduces amendments to the Government Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure concerning jury service, court security, and the appointment of judges and magistrates. It allows the chief justice to assign judges in cases of recusal, establishes a framework for criminal magistrates in Bell County, and modifies grand juror qualifications, including permanent exemptions for individuals aged 75 and older. The bill also creates a court security committee to develop policies for courthouse safety and lowers the population threshold for counties to construct parking facilities near courthouses from 150,000 to 40,000. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline judicial processes, enhance court efficiency, and ensure the effective administration of justice in Texas.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 25.0092, Government Code 25.0212, Government Code 25.1102, Government Code 25.1723, Government Code 25.0022, Government Code 25.002201, Government Code 25.00255, Government Code 659.012, Government Code 62.001, Government Code 62.0132, Government Code 62.102, Government Code 62.106, Government Code 62.107, Government Code 62.108, Government Code 62.109, Government Code 62.113, Government Code 13.007, Government Code 62.115, Government Code 57.002, Government Code 74.092, Local Government Code 615.003 (Government Code 13, Government Code 74, Government Code 57, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 659, Government Code 25, Government Code 62)