The bill proposes significant amendments to the Government Code and related statutes to enhance the operation and administration of the judicial branch in Texas. Key changes include the creation of new judicial districts (the 490th, 492nd, 501st, 502nd, 503rd, 504th, 511th, 512th, 513th, 514th, 515th, 516th, and 517th Judicial Districts) and the reorganization of existing districts, such as the 522nd and 274th Judicial Districts. The bill also raises the threshold for civil cases in statutory county courts from $250,000 to $325,000, allowing these courts to handle a broader range of cases and specifying that juries in civil cases exceeding this threshold will consist of 12 members unless otherwise agreed. Additionally, it introduces provisions for the management of judicial funds and establishes new statutory probate courts in Hidalgo County, as well as a fifth County Civil Court at Law in Harris County.

Further amendments focus on improving judicial training, enhancing security measures in municipal courts, and clarifying the roles of judges and clerks. The bill mandates that judges complete training related to family violence and other sensitive issues, while also establishing court security committees to develop emergency management plans. It expands the eligibility criteria for judges in statutory probate courts and allows for remote proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region. The bill aims to modernize judicial administration, improve access to justice, and ensure that existing cases are not adversely affected by the new regulations, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Texas 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 (Property Code 21, Government Code 52, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Tax Code 34, Transportation Code 521, Election Code 13, Government Code 121, Government Code 406, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 552, Government Code 74, Government Code 75, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Family Code 42, Government Code 51, Government Code 46, Election Code 233, Government Code 29, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Occupations Code 455, Government Code 43, Penal Code 42, Government Code 81, Human Resources Code 152, Government Code 22, Government Code 30, Election Code 253, Government Code 71, Family Code 6, Government Code 25, Government Code 57, Estates Code 1162, Human Resources Code 42, Local Government Code 135, Government Code 24, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 72)