H.B. No. 244 proposes significant amendments to the Government Code and related statutes, focusing on the judicial branch of Texas state government. The bill establishes new judicial districts, including the 490th Judicial District in Brazoria County and the 492nd Judicial District in Colorado and Lavaca counties, while also modifying the roles of district and county clerks in document handling. It raises the threshold for civil cases in statutory county courts from $250,000 to $325,000, allowing concurrent jurisdiction with district courts for cases exceeding this limit. Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions for court security, including the establishment of court security committees and updates to the responsibilities of judges and clerks.

The bill also enhances judicial training requirements, particularly in sensitive areas such as family violence and sexual assault, and introduces new provisions for electronic proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region. It expands protections for the personal information of judicial employees and modifies the requirements for driver's licenses to allow certain individuals to omit their residence addresses. Overall, H.B. No. 244 aims to streamline court operations, enhance judicial efficiency, and improve access to justice while ensuring the confidentiality and safety of individuals working within the judicial system.

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 (Election Code 233, Government Code 81, Penal Code 42, Government Code 24, Government Code 25, Government Code 406, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 22, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Election Code 13, Tax Code 34, Human Resources Code 42, Property Code 21, Election Code 253, Family Code 42, Government Code 46, Government Code 552, Estates Code 1162, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Government Code 52, Government Code 71, Family Code 6, Government Code 43, Transportation Code 521, Government Code 74, Government Code 29, Human Resources Code 152, Occupations Code 455, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Government Code 121, Government Code 30, Government Code 75, Government Code 72, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 51, Local Government Code 135, Government Code 57)