H.B. No. 244 proposes significant amendments to the Texas Government Code, focusing on the judicial branch's operations, including the establishment of new judicial districts, such as the 490th Judicial District in Brazoria County and the 492nd Judicial District in Colorado and Lavaca counties. The bill aims to enhance court efficiency by prioritizing specific case types in certain district courts and updating the roles of district clerks in document management. It also raises the civil case threshold in statutory county courts from $250,000 to $325,000, allowing these courts to handle a broader range of cases and stipulating that juries in civil cases above this threshold will consist of 12 members unless agreed otherwise.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for court security, including the establishment of court security committees to develop emergency management plans, and modifies the requirements for judges to allow for greater flexibility in assignments. It also enhances protections for judicial personnel by increasing penalties for offenses against them and expanding the list of individuals whose personal information is protected from public disclosure. Overall, the bill aims to streamline judicial processes, improve access to justice, and ensure the safety and security of court operations while updating compensation and appointment processes for judges and justices.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.360, Government Code 24.451, Government Code 24.537, Government Code 24.591, Government Code 24.60043, 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 29.014, Government Code 30.00007, Government Code 30.01014, Government Code 25.002201, Government Code 25.00255, Government Code 74.003, Government Code 74.046, Government Code 74.059, Government Code 74.061, Human Resources Code 152.0191, Human Resources Code 152.0521, Human Resources Code 152.0971, Human Resources Code 152.1551, Human Resources Code 152.1621, Government Code 22.110, Government Code 74.042, Government Code 51.903, Government Code 57.002, Government Code 71.0354, Government Code 72.016, Government Code 72.083, Government Code 74.024, Government Code 74.051, Government Code 74.091, Government Code 75.001, Government Code 121.002, Local Government Code 135.101, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16.073, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.015, Election Code 233.006, Family Code 6.4035, Government Code 22.220, Government Code 406.026, Property Code 21.049, Tax Code 34.03, Transportation Code 521.243, Family Code 42.002, Human Resources Code 42.0426, Human Resources Code 152.00145, Government Code 22.002, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.0035, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22.004, Estates Code 1162.007, Government Code 52.047, Health and Safety Code 171.208, Occupations Code 455.351, Election Code 13.0021, Election Code 253.152, Government Code 81.113, Government Code 552.024, Government Code 552.1175, Local Government Code 615.003, Penal Code 42.07, Transportation Code 521.121 (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Government Code 75, Government Code 72, Government Code 71, Family Code 42, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Government Code 52, Family Code 6, Election Code 13, Human Resources Code 42, Estates Code 1162, Government Code 121, Human Resources Code 152, Government Code 25, Government Code 46, Government Code 51, Government Code 43, Health and Safety Code 171, Occupations Code 455, Government Code 552, Tax Code 34, Government Code 57, Local Government Code 135, Election Code 233, Penal Code 42, Government Code 406, Government Code 74, Transportation Code 521, Government Code 24, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Government Code 81, Election Code 253, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 30, Property Code 21, Government Code 29, Government Code 22)