S.B. No. 2878 is a comprehensive legislative bill aimed at reforming various aspects of the Texas judicial system, including the operation and administration of courts. The bill introduces several amendments to the Government Code, such as the creation of new judicial districts (the 490th, 492nd, 501st, 502nd, 503rd, 504th, 511th, and 512th) and establishes case preferences for specific district courts, like prioritizing civil and family law matters in the 173rd District Court. It also raises the threshold for civil cases in statutory county courts from $250,000 to $325,000 and mandates the Supreme Court of Texas to adopt rules for efficient civil action resolutions. Additionally, the bill repeals outdated provisions and updates the titles and jurisdictional details of existing judicial districts.

The bill further addresses the qualifications and appointment processes for judges and magistrates, including the removal of the requirement for appointed judges to be licensed attorneys in good standing, while increasing the minimum years of required legal practice for certain positions. It introduces youth diversion strategies for children charged with misdemeanors, emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment, and establishes new requirements for certified copies of legal documents. The bill also enhances privacy protections for individuals involved in the judicial system by expanding the list of protected personal information and clarifying the expunction process for individuals completing court programs. Overall, S.B. No. 2878 seeks to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of the Texas judicial system through these various reforms.

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 74, Government Code 13, Government Code 62, Government Code 25, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 659, Government Code 57)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.451, Government Code 43.101, Government Code 46.002, Government Code 25.0003, Government Code 25.0007, Government Code 25.0062, Government Code 25.0092, Government Code 25.0212, Government Code 25.1101, Government Code 25.1102, Government Code 25.0022, Government Code 25.002201, Government Code 25.00255, Government Code 74.003, Government Code 74.046, Government Code 74.061, 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 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 72.083, Government Code 74.051, Government Code 74.091, Government Code 121.002, Human Resources Code 152.0191, Human Resources Code 152.1551, Human Resources Code 152.1621, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.015, Government Code 29.014, Government Code 30.00007, Government Code 51.903, Government Code 72.015, Government Code 74.092, Government Code 51.303, Health and Safety Code 574.001, Local Government Code 135.101, Local Government Code 615.003, Penal Code 42.07, Property Code 21.049, Tax Code 34.03, Transportation Code 521.243 (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Government Code 72, Government Code 43, Government Code 30, Health and Safety Code 574, Government Code 659, Human Resources Code 152, Government Code 121, Government Code 62, Local Government Code 615, Tax Code 34, Government Code 51, Transportation Code 521, Government Code 25, Property Code 21, Government Code 57, Government Code 29, Government Code 74, Government Code 46, Government Code 13, Local Government Code 135, Government Code 24, Government Code 54, Government Code 33, Penal Code 42)
Engrossed: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.451, Government Code 43.101, Government Code 46.002, Government Code 25.0003, Government Code 25.0007, Government Code 25.0062, Government Code 25.0092, Government Code 25.0212, Government Code 25.1101, Government Code 25.1102, Government Code 25.0022, Government Code 25.002201, Government Code 25.00255, Government Code 74.003, Government Code 74.046, Government Code 74.061, 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 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 72.083, Government Code 74.051, Government Code 74.091, Government Code 121.002, Human Resources Code 42.002, Human Resources Code 152.00145, Human Resources Code 152.0191, Human Resources Code 152.1551, Human Resources Code 152.1621, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.015, Government Code 29.014, Government Code 30.00007, Government Code 51.903, Government Code 72.015, Government Code 74.092, Government Code 51.303, Health and Safety Code 574.001, Local Government Code 135.101, Local Government Code 615.003, Penal Code 42.07, Property Code 21.049, Tax Code 34.03, Transportation Code 521.243 (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Government Code 72, Government Code 43, Government Code 30, Health and Safety Code 574, Government Code 659, Human Resources Code 152, Government Code 121, Government Code 62, Local Government Code 615, Tax Code 34, Government Code 51, Transportation Code 521, Government Code 25, Property Code 21, Government Code 57, Government Code 29, Government Code 74, Government Code 46, Government Code 13, Local Government Code 135, Government Code 24, Human Resources Code 42, Government Code 54, Government Code 33, Penal Code 42)
House Committee Report: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.360, Government Code 24.451, Government Code 24.537, Government Code 24.591, Government Code 24.911, Government Code 24.913, Government Code 43.101, Government Code 43.177, Government Code 46.002, Government Code 25.0003, Government Code 25.0007, Government Code 25.00212, Government Code 25.0022, Government Code 25.0062, Government Code 25.0092, Government Code 25.0212, Government Code 25.1031, Government Code 25.1101, Government Code 25.1102, Government Code 25.2282, Government Code 25.2452, Government Code 25.2704, Government Code 25.002201, Government Code 25.00255, Government Code 74.003, Government Code 74.046, Government Code 74.059, Government Code 74.061, 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 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 22.110, Government Code 22.220, Government Code 51.303, Government Code 51.903, Government Code 53.001, Government Code 57.002, Government Code 72.015, Government Code 72.016, Government Code 521.121, Government Code 74.051, Government Code 74.091, Government Code 74.092, Government Code 121.002, Health and Safety Code 574.001, Local Government Code 135.101, Local Government Code 615.003, Human Resources Code 42.002, Human Resources Code 152.00145, Human Resources Code 152.0191, Human Resources Code 152.0521, Human Resources Code 152.1551, Human Resources Code 152.1621, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.073, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.015, Government Code 29.014, Government Code 30.00007, Government Code 30.01014, Election Code 13.0021, Election Code 141.001, Family Code 301.052, Government Code 552.117, Government Code 552.1175, Penal Code 42.07, Property Code 21.049, Tax Code 34.03, Transportation Code 521.121, Transportation Code 521.243 (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Government Code 72, Government Code 43, Government Code 30, Health and Safety Code 574, Election Code 13, Government Code 552, Government Code 659, Human Resources Code 152, Family Code 301, Government Code 121, Government Code 62, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 521, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Tax Code 34, Government Code 51, Election Code 141, Transportation Code 521, Government Code 25, Property Code 21, Government Code 57, Government Code 29, Government Code 74, Government Code 46, Government Code 13, Local Government Code 135, Government Code 24, Human Resources Code 42, Government Code 54, Government Code 33, Government Code 53, Penal Code 42, Government Code 22)
Enrolled: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.360, Government Code 24.451, Government Code 24.537, Government Code 24.591, Government Code 24.911, Government Code 24.913, Government Code 43.101, Government Code 43.177, Government Code 46.002, Government Code 22.004, Government Code 25.0003, Government Code 25.0007, Government Code 25.00212, Government Code 25.0022, Government Code 25.0062, Government Code 25.0092, Government Code 25.0212, Government Code 25.1031, Government Code 25.1101, Government Code 25.1102, Government Code 25.2282, Government Code 25.2452, Government Code 25.2704, Government Code 25.002201, Government Code 25.00255, Government Code 74.003, Government Code 74.046, Government Code 74.059, Government Code 74.061, 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 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, Election Code 233.006, Election Code 253.152, Family Code 6.4035, Government Code 22.110, Government Code 22.220, Government Code 51.303, Government Code 51.903, Government Code 53.001, Government Code 57.002, Government Code 72.015, Government Code 72.016, Government Code 72.083, Government Code 74.024, Government Code 74.051, Government Code 74.091, Government Code 74.092, Government Code 75.001, Government Code 121.002, Government Code 406.026, Health and Safety Code 574.001, Local Government Code 118.011, Local Government Code 135.101, Local Government Code 615.003, Family Code 42.002, Human Resources Code 42.0426, Human Resources Code 152.00145, Human Resources Code 152.0191, Human Resources Code 152.0521, Human Resources Code 152.1551, Human Resources Code 152.1621, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.073, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.015, Government Code 29.014, Government Code 30.00007, Government Code 30.01014, Election Code 13.0021, Family Code 301.052, Government Code 81.113, Government Code 552.117, Government Code 552.1175, Penal Code 42.07, Property Code 21.049, Tax Code 34.03, Transportation Code 521.121, Transportation Code 521.243 (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Government Code 72, Government Code 43, Government Code 30, Election Code 233, Health and Safety Code 574, Election Code 13, Government Code 552, Government Code 659, Election Code 253, Human Resources Code 152, Family Code 301, Government Code 121, Government Code 81, Government Code 62, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 521, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Family Code 6, Government Code 406, Family Code 42, Tax Code 34, Government Code 51, Election Code 141, Transportation Code 521, Government Code 25, Property Code 21, Government Code 57, Government Code 29, Government Code 74, Government Code 46, Government Code 13, Local Government Code 135, Government Code 24, Human Resources Code 42, Government Code 75, Government Code 54, Government Code 33, Government Code 53, Penal Code 42, Local Government Code 118, Government Code 22)