S.B. No. 16 is a comprehensive legislative bill aimed at reforming various aspects of the judicial branch in Texas, including court security, document delivery, and the administration of district courts. The bill introduces significant amendments to the Government Code, such as the establishment of new judicial districts, including the 522nd Judicial District for Gonzales and Guadalupe counties, and the 490th Judicial District for Brazoria County. It also clarifies the roles of district and county clerks in managing civil and criminal cases, modifies the election process for district attorneys, and raises the threshold for civil cases in statutory county courts from $250,000 to $325,000. Additionally, the bill enhances the efficiency of court operations by allowing for electronic proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region and establishing new criteria for the appointment of judges.

Moreover, the bill addresses protective orders, juvenile justice, and mental health services, mandating that applications for protective orders include specific applicant information and prioritizing diversion from prosecution for children under 12. It also expands confidentiality protections for certain individuals involved in the judicial system, including public defender employees and court clerks, while modifying penalties for offenses against court personnel. The legislation aims to streamline judicial processes, enhance security, and improve access to justice, ensuring that the judicial system in Texas operates more effectively and equitably.

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 71.0354, Government Code 72.016, Government Code 72.083, Government Code 74.024, 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, 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 (Transportation Code 521, Government Code 552, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 52, Election Code 233, Government Code 81, Government Code 46, Occupations Code 455, Government Code 25, Government Code 43, Government Code 75, Family Code 42, Penal Code 42, Tax Code 34, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Local Government Code 135, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 29, Election Code 13, Government Code 51, Government Code 72, Government Code 71, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Government Code 74, Human Resources Code 42, Human Resources Code 152, Family Code 6, Estates Code 1162, Government Code 24, Election Code 253, Government Code 406, Government Code 30, Government Code 121, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Government Code 22, Property Code 21)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.360, Government Code 24.451, Government Code 24.537, Government Code 24.591, Government Code 24.60043, 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 71.0354, Government Code 72.016, Government Code 72.083, Government Code 74.024, 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, 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 (Transportation Code 521, Government Code 552, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 52, Election Code 233, Government Code 81, Government Code 46, Occupations Code 455, Government Code 25, Government Code 43, Government Code 75, Family Code 42, Penal Code 42, Tax Code 34, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Local Government Code 135, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 29, Election Code 13, Government Code 51, Government Code 72, Government Code 71, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Government Code 74, Human Resources Code 42, Human Resources Code 152, Family Code 6, Estates Code 1162, Government Code 24, Election Code 253, Government Code 406, Government Code 30, Government Code 121, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Government Code 22, Property Code 21)
Engrossed: 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 71.0354, Government Code 72.016, Government Code 72.083, Government Code 74.024, 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, 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 (Transportation Code 521, Government Code 552, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 52, Election Code 233, Government Code 81, Government Code 46, Occupations Code 455, Government Code 25, Government Code 43, Government Code 75, Family Code 42, Penal Code 42, Tax Code 34, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Local Government Code 135, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 29, Election Code 13, Government Code 51, Government Code 72, Government Code 71, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Government Code 74, Human Resources Code 42, Human Resources Code 152, Family Code 6, Estates Code 1162, Government Code 24, Election Code 253, Government Code 406, Government Code 30, Government Code 121, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Government Code 22, Property Code 21)