House Bill No. 5130 proposes amendments to the compensation structure for judges and justices in Texas, specifically addressing the additional compensation certain counties provide for extrajudicial services. The bill establishes that district court judges and justices of the court of appeals are entitled to a minimum annual base salary of $140,000, with specific limitations on the combined base salary from state and county sources. Notably, the bill modifies the previous salary cap by inserting a new limit of $1,000 instead of the previous $5,000 less than the maximum combined base salary for justices of the court of appeals and the supreme court. Additionally, it introduces a provision that allows judges of the division of a business court to receive additional compensation from the state equivalent to the maximum amount a district judge may be paid by a county.

The bill also outlines the criteria for judges and justices to receive increased salaries based on years of service, with specific percentages of the state base salary applicable after four and eight years of service. Furthermore, it clarifies that the salary limitations for combined state and local sources take precedence over any conflicting provisions in existing law. The changes enacted by this bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to the state fiscal biennium beginning on that date.