H.B. No. 16 is a comprehensive legislative bill aimed at reforming various aspects of the judicial branch in Texas, including the establishment of new judicial districts, modifications to court procedures, and enhancements to court security. The bill creates the 522nd Judicial District, which includes Gonzales and Guadalupe counties, and establishes several other judicial districts across the state. It also amends the Government Code to clarify the roles of district clerks, introduces provisions for concurrent jurisdiction in certain counties, and increases the jurisdictional limits for civil cases in county courts at law from $250,000 to $325,000. Additionally, the bill establishes new statutory probate courts and modifies the operational procedures of existing courts to improve efficiency.

The bill further addresses judicial administration by mandating the creation of court security committees, enhancing the confidentiality of personal information for court employees, and updating the requirements for certified copies of documents. It also introduces new provisions for juvenile justice, mental health services, and the handling of election contests, while expanding the definition of "at-risk individual" to include federal judges and court clerks. Notably, the bill specifies that certain offenses related to harassment can escalate in severity based on the victim's status, such as being a court employee. Overall, H.B. No. 16 aims to streamline judicial processes, enhance the safety and privacy of judicial personnel, and improve the overall efficiency of the Texas judicial system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.144, 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 25.0005, 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 (Local Government Code 135, Government Code 74, Government Code 51, Government Code 30, Government Code 71, Government Code 406, Government Code 81, Government Code 29, Government Code 52, Occupations Code 455, Government Code 43, Family Code 6, Government Code 22, Family Code 42, Election Code 233, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 552, Human Resources Code 152, Tax Code 34, Election Code 253, Government Code 46, Government Code 24, Government Code 72, Estates Code 1162, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 25, Property Code 21, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Transportation Code 521, Human Resources Code 42, Government Code 75, Penal Code 42, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Election Code 13, Government Code 121)
House Committee Report: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.144, 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 24.600, Government Code 22.004, Government Code 25.0003, Government Code 25.0005, 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 (Local Government Code 135, Government Code 74, Government Code 51, Government Code 30, Government Code 71, Government Code 406, Government Code 81, Government Code 29, Government Code 52, Occupations Code 455, Government Code 43, Family Code 6, Government Code 22, Family Code 42, Election Code 233, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 552, Human Resources Code 152, Tax Code 34, Election Code 253, Government Code 46, Government Code 24, Government Code 72, Estates Code 1162, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 25, Property Code 21, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Transportation Code 521, Human Resources Code 42, Government Code 75, Penal Code 42, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Election Code 13, Government Code 121)
Engrossed: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.144, 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 24.600, Government Code 22.004, Government Code 25.0003, Government Code 25.0005, 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 (Local Government Code 135, Government Code 74, Government Code 51, Government Code 30, Government Code 71, Government Code 406, Government Code 81, Government Code 29, Government Code 52, Occupations Code 455, Government Code 43, Family Code 6, Government Code 22, Family Code 42, Election Code 233, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 552, Human Resources Code 152, Tax Code 34, Election Code 253, Government Code 46, Government Code 24, Government Code 72, Estates Code 1162, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 25, Property Code 21, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Transportation Code 521, Human Resources Code 42, Government Code 75, Penal Code 42, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Election Code 13, Government Code 121)
Enrolled: Government Code 24.127, Government Code 24.144, 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 24.600, Government Code 22.004, Government Code 25.0003, Government Code 25.0005, 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 (Local Government Code 135, Government Code 74, Government Code 51, Government Code 30, Government Code 71, Government Code 406, Government Code 81, Government Code 29, Government Code 52, Occupations Code 455, Government Code 43, Family Code 6, Government Code 22, Family Code 42, Election Code 233, Local Government Code 615, Government Code 552, Human Resources Code 152, Tax Code 34, Election Code 253, Government Code 46, Government Code 24, Government Code 72, Estates Code 1162, Health and Safety Code 171, Government Code 25, Property Code 21, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Transportation Code 521, Human Resources Code 42, Government Code 75, Penal Code 42, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 16, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 22, Election Code 13, Government Code 121)