H.B. No. 5079 amends the Government Code to establish new qualifications for masters, magistrates, referees, and associate judges in Texas. A new Subchapter A is added, specifying that these judicial appointees must have been licensed to practice law in Texas for at least five years, with certain exceptions allowing for a minimum of two years of licensure for specific positions outlined in the bill. Additionally, the bill modifies existing qualifications by removing the requirement for magistrates to have been licensed for at least four years and instead emphasizes residency and other criteria.

The bill also introduces various amendments across multiple sections of the Government Code, including changes to the qualifications for magistrates and associate judges. Notably, it removes previous requirements for certain positions that mandated a minimum of four years of legal practice and instead sets a new standard of five years for most roles. The changes will apply only to those appointed after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025, ensuring that current appointees are not affected by the new qualifications.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 54.302, Government Code 54.652, Government Code 54.802, Government Code 54.853, Government Code 33.022, Government Code 54.902, Government Code 54.972, Government Code 54.1173, Government Code 54.1353, Government Code 54.1501, Government Code 54.1804, Government Code 54.1851, Government Code 54.1953, Government Code 54.2202, Government Code 54.2402, Government Code 54.2602, Government Code 54.2702, Government Code 54.2802, Government Code 54.2807 (Government Code 33, Government Code 54)