S.B. No. 17 seeks to enhance the operation and administration of the judicial branch in Texas by introducing several amendments to the Government Code and related statutes. The bill proposes the creation of multiple new judicial districts, including the 490th through 517th Judicial Districts, and modifies existing district compositions and jurisdictions. It raises the maximum amount in controversy for civil cases from $250,000 to $325,000, affecting the concurrent jurisdiction of statutory county courts with district courts. Additionally, the bill establishes new provisions for the election of district attorneys in these newly created districts and outlines the responsibilities of district clerks in civil and criminal matters.

The legislation also addresses court security, judicial training, and the confidentiality of personal information for court employees. It mandates the establishment of court security committees and introduces new training requirements for judges on issues such as elder abuse. Furthermore, the bill enhances privacy protections for public officials by expanding the list of individuals whose personal information is protected from public disclosure. Overall, S.B. No. 17 aims to streamline judicial processes, improve the administration of justice, and ensure adequate security measures within 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 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 (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Government Code 46, Property Code 21, Election Code 13, Government Code 81, Human Resources Code 42, Family Code 6, Family Code 42, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Election Code 233, Penal Code 42, Government Code 51, Tax Code 34, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 30, Government Code 74, Estates Code 1162, Government Code 71, Government Code 121, Election Code 253, Transportation Code 521, Government Code 22, Government Code 72, Government Code 52, Government Code 43, Government Code 75, Occupations Code 455, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Government Code 406, Government Code 552, Government Code 24, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 29, Government Code 25, Human Resources Code 152, Local Government Code 135)
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 (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Government Code 46, Property Code 21, Election Code 13, Government Code 81, Human Resources Code 42, Family Code 6, Family Code 42, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Election Code 233, Penal Code 42, Government Code 51, Tax Code 34, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 30, Government Code 74, Estates Code 1162, Government Code 71, Government Code 121, Election Code 253, Transportation Code 521, Government Code 22, Government Code 72, Government Code 52, Government Code 43, Government Code 75, Occupations Code 455, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Government Code 406, Government Code 552, Government Code 24, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 29, Government Code 25, Human Resources Code 152, Local Government Code 135)