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Yes: 190 • No: 1
TexasHB 1689th Legislature 2nd Called SessionHouseWALLET
Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, record retention, youth diversion, court-ordered mental health services, the powers of the Texas Supreme Court, jurors, and the special prosecution unit; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.
Sponsored By: Paul Dyson, Bryan Hughes (Republican), Marc LaHood, Jeff Leach, Eddie Morales, Terry M. Wilson
Became Law
ATASCOSA COUNTYBOWIE COUNTYBRAZORIA COUNTYCALLAHAN COUNTYCANYON, CITY OFCOKE COUNTYCOLORADO COUNTYCOMAL COUNTYCONCHO COUNTYDIMMIT COUNTYELLIS COUNTYFAYETTE COUNTYFORT BEND COUNTYGONZALES COUNTYGUADALUPE COUNTYHARRIS COUNTYHENDERSON COUNTYHIDALGO COUNTYIRION COUNTYLAVACA COUNTYMAVERICK COUNTYMONTGOMERY COUNTYPOTTER COUNTYROCKWALL COUNTYRUNNELS COUNTYSABINE COUNTYSCHLEICHER COUNTYSTERLING COUNTYTARRANT COUNTYTOM GREEN COUNTYWICHITA COUNTYWILLIAMSON COUNTYZAVALA COUNTYCourts--AdministrationCourts--AppellateCourts--Civil ProcedureCourts--County & StatutoryCourts--DistrictCourts--JudgesCourts--JuriesCourts--JusticeCourts--PersonnelCourts--Prosecuting AttorneysCrimes--Against Persons--GeneralFees & Other Nontax Revenue--LocalInterim StudiesJuvenile Boards & OfficersMinors--Juvenile JusticeProtection of Personal InformationSalaries & ExpensesBORDERELDER ABUSEEXPUNCTION OF RECORDSSTAFF DEVELOPMENT & TRAININGCOMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTSCOURT ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OFFIFTEENTH COURT OF APPEALSJUDICIAL CONDUCT, STATE COMMISSION ONPUBLIC SAFETY, DEPARTMENT OFSUPREME COURT
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
47 provisions identified: 34 benefits, 4 costs, 9 mixed.
Harassment law updated for digital messages
Electronic communication now clearly includes emails, texts, instant messages, calls, camera feeds, social media, websites, faxes, and pagers. The new rules apply to offenses committed on or after the law’s effective date. If any part of the offense happened earlier, the old law applies. This helps law enforcement and courts address modern forms of harassment.
Tougher penalties for harassing court staff
Penalties are higher for harassing or attacking judges and court employees. Harassing a known court employee is at least a Class A misdemeanor, with higher levels for repeat offenders. Harassing a judge can be a state jail felony or a third‑degree felony.
New fee with deferred adjudication
When a judge gives deferred adjudication, the court can charge a special expense up to the size of the possible fine. The court can collect this before the deferral ends. Any amount you pay counts toward any later fine. A judge can waive the fee for good cause.
Court security planning and less public access
Court security committees are not subject to open‑meetings or public‑information laws. Committees must meet at least once a year and may recommend, but cannot direct, how security money is used. The state’s judicial security office must provide a model court emergency plan and act as a central resource with best practices and training. This aims to improve safety planning while reducing public access to committee work.
More magistrates and new protection order rules
Starting September 1, 2025, more officers qualify as magistrates, including certain associate judges, criminal magistrates in named counties, and county criminal‑law hearing officers. The criminal court that takes a case can change a magistrate’s emergency protection order on request, using the standards set by law. This change to emergency orders applies only to orders entered on or after the law’s effective date.
Stronger standards for specialty courts and training
A specialty court cannot operate until it gives the Office of Court Administration its notice, any founding resolution, and its policy manual or participant handbook. The Office must issue written verification that the materials meet requirements before the court opens. Judicial training must cover topics like videotaping a child’s testimony, trauma‑reduction for children, family violence, sexual assault, trafficking, grooming, and related medical findings. The director may set better performance measures for probate and mental‑health cases in annual reports.
Tighter deadlines for election challenges
To contest an election, you must file by the later of 30 days after election records become public or the date the official result is set. For constitutional amendment elections filed after this law takes effect, you must serve the secretary of state before the final canvass. Trial courts face short timelines: pretrial rulings within 30 days, trial not earlier than day 45 unless requested, and judgment by day 180 after the election. The governor must act within 10 days after final judgment, and appeals must finish within 60 days after final judgment. Filing does not stop implementation; the secretary of state must announce the final vote and note the contest.
Bigger credits to pay court fines
Defendants get $150 credit per day of jail time or court‑ordered labor toward fines and costs. Each 8 hours of community service clears at least $150. Some credits apply only if sentenced on or after the law’s effective date. The community service change applies only to service done on or after that date.
Certified court copies standardized statewide
District, county, and joint clerks must include seals or signatures, unique certifications, and page numbers on certified copies. The last page must say the copy is true, list the page count, and show the date issued. This makes certified records more consistent and easier to use.
Clerks must accept protective order filings
District court clerks must accept applications for protective orders filed under the Family Code. This removes a filing barrier for people seeking protection. Victims and families can file without being turned away by the clerk.
Easier family law filings and notarization
In Family Code cases, you can use electronic notarization. In Hidalgo and Tom Green counties, you can file family cases in a county court at law or in district court. The Hidalgo change applies to actions filed on or after that section’s effective date and may take effect immediately if the Act received a two‑thirds vote.
Easier to be excused from grand juries
You can be excused from grand jury duty if you are 75 or older, care for a child who would be left without care, attend high school, or are enrolled and in attendance at a college. Courts can excuse others with a reasonable excuse. Follow the filing steps with the district clerk. The change applies to people summoned after the law takes effect.
Legal shield and state-paid defense for unit staff
The unit’s board, leaders, counselors, and employees named in law are immune from lawsuits for good‑faith actions under Chapters 41 or 841. If the unit asks, the Attorney General must defend them in suits from those services, at no cost to the unit or person. When a person is found immune, the court must award court costs and attorney fees to that person or to the Attorney General if the state provided the defense.
Juvenile arrest warrants kept private
Arrest warrants and the complaint or affidavit for a child are confidential. Only the juvenile judge, probation, juvenile and criminal justice agencies, the child’s and parents’ lawyers, prosecutors, and others the juvenile court approves can see them. This protects a child’s privacy.
No clerk fee for certain filings
For filings made under Section 51.903, a district clerk may not charge the filing fee set by Section 12.005. This removes that clerk fee for eligible filings.
Some license holders' home address private
If a license holder omits a home address under the law’s Subsection (c) process, that address is confidential. Only the Department of Public Safety or law enforcement can use it for official reasons.
Who gets property-tax address privacy
Beginning September 1, 2025, the law lists who qualifies for property‑tax record address confidentiality under Section 25.025. Covered groups include certain judges, peace officers, some court employees and clerks, and certain victims and family members named in law. If you are in a listed group, the section applies to you.
Faster notices and refunds in property cases
If a tax sale leaves more than $25, the clerk must tell the former owner within 31 days. The notice must state the amount held and how to claim it. The clerk keeps the money for two years unless a court orders otherwise, and must alert the attorney general if named in the case. In property cases decided by special commissioners, the clerk must send the decision notice by the next working day. This speeds key notices so owners can meet deadlines and claim money.
CLE credit for state attorneys
A Texas lawyer who works full time as an attorney for listed legislative offices, or who serves as a governor‑appointed official confirmed by the Senate, gets credit for the yearly CLE requirement. This applies to CLE compliance years ending on or after the law’s effective date.
All counties can build courthouse parking
Any county may build or expand a parking lot or garage next to the courthouse. This can make it easier to park for court visits. The law authorizes these projects but does not fund them.
Associate judges added for criminal cases
Listed district courts may appoint full‑ or part‑time criminal associate judges if authorized by the county. Covered districts include the 51st, 119th, 340th, and 391st, serving counties such as Coke, Concho, Irion, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, and Tom Green. Associate judges can handle many nontrial matters, take guilty pleas, and select juries. They cannot try criminal cases on the merits.
Faster rulings and clearer arbitration deadlines
Courts must set a hearing on a summary‑judgment motion within 60 days of filing, or within 90 days for docket needs, good cause, or with the movant’s consent. Courts must issue a written ruling within 90 days after the motion is heard or considered. An arbitration claim has the same time limit as a court claim. Filing suit in court pauses the arbitration time limit for the same claim. These steps help prevent losing rights because of timing.
Local courts shift priorities and jurisdiction
In Callahan County, the 42nd District Court and the county court share criminal jurisdiction, and cases can be filed in or transferred between them. The 173rd District Court in Henderson County gives priority to civil and family cases. The 392nd District Court gives priority to criminal cases. Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 2 also gives priority to criminal cases. These rules aim to move high‑priority cases faster.
Municipal judges: new duties and time
The presiding municipal judge must keep a central docket, balance caseloads, request jurors, assign judges, and supervise court operations. The presiding judge must also create a court security committee with law enforcement and a city representative. Municipal judges no longer must live in the city and must devote as much time as the job needs.
New courts added statewide with dates
New district courts start on set dates: Brazoria (490th) and Colorado & Lavaca (492nd) on September 1, 2026; Comal (511th) on September 1, 2026; and Harris (513th–515th) on September 1, 2026 with civil‑case preference, plus 516th–517th on October 1, 2026 with civil‑case preference. Fort Bend (501st, 502nd), Rockwall (503rd), Ellis (504th), and Williamson (512th) take effect December 1, 2025 or the statute’s fallback date, as provided. Montgomery County gets the 523rd District Court with criminal‑case preference on September 1, 2026. Harris County adds County Civil Court at Law No. 5 on the Act’s effective date; Hidalgo creates Probate Court No. 2 and renames the existing court No. 1 on the section’s effective date; Maverick County creates a County Court at Law on the Act’s effective date. New district attorney offices begin for Sabine County’s 273rd on September 1, 2028 (with a January 1, 2029 statutory change) and for the 365th (Dimmit and Zavala) on January 1, 2029 with 2028 elections; most other sections take effect on the 91st day after session unless a section lists a different date.
New district court maps in two regions
Starting January 1, 2026, the 274th Judicial District serves Comal and Hays Counties and has the same jurisdiction as the 22nd and 207th courts there. Starting January 1, 2027, the 522nd Judicial District serves Gonzales and Guadalupe Counties. Residents in these counties will file cases under the new district court maps and jurisdictions on those dates.
New judges must complete training
New judges must finish 12 hours of training in their first term or within four years. At least four hours cover trafficking and child and elder abuse. Six hours cover resources and bias topics. One hour covers family violence.
No civil papers during legislative session
You cannot serve civil papers in person on Texas legislators, officers, or employees during a legislative proceeding. Courts must quash service that breaks this rule. A process server who violates it can lose their certification.
Pay and remote work for assigned judges
Retired judges assigned to courts of appeals or district courts get pro rata pay that matches comparable state and county salaries. In Texas‑Mexico border counties, assigned judges to constitutional county courts can receive higher state pay if urgent needs are certified. Assigned judges in border counties may handle nontrial matters by video or phone if authorized. Presiding judges may appoint judicial mentors, and retired judges serving as mentors get the same pay and expense rules as trial court assignments. Retirees who elect it are designated senior judges for appointments to judicial boards and commissions.
Prosecutors must report caseload data
County, district, and criminal district attorneys must report offense categories, case counts, staffing levels, and certain release and notice counts. The Texas Judicial Council sets the form and instructions and must do so by September 1, 2026. This improves transparency on prosecutions and staffing.
Special prosecution unit gains charging power
Attorneys in the special prosecution unit have the same power as local prosecutors to handle crimes by people civilly committed as sexually violent predators. This includes offenses tied to civil commitment rules. The change strengthens statewide ability to prosecute these crimes.
Stronger court security and leadership
Municipal court security committees must set security policies and create a court emergency plan. Soon after the law takes effect, committees must adopt these emergency plans. Counties and cities must consider court security committee advice when directing related funds. Local administrative district judges are elected by peers for two years and get added duties, including creating a court security committee and emergency plan. The city of Canyon may appoint a municipal judge who is not a city resident.
Stronger privacy for judges and court staff
Beginning September 1, 2025, the law treats judges, clerks, and judicial‑branch employees as “at‑risk” for court security. County and district clerks must, on request, remove your home address, phone, emergency contact, or Social Security number from documents they post online. County registrars must keep your home address off the public voter list, and your driver’s license can show your courthouse or office address instead of your home. The Office of Court Administration must regularly tell agencies which people’s personal info to shield, and DPS must review and report on the driver’s license address process by November 1, 2026. The Penal Code also clarifies who is a “court employee” for harassment protections.
Stronger probate judge assignment rules
The presiding probate judge gets clearer duties and oversight tools. Only experienced former judges with required education and no public discipline may serve on probate assignment. A retired judge can take cases in their home county only if they agree not to practice law or act as guardian ad litem there for two years. Assigned retired judges are not county employees. After a recusal or disqualification, a replacement judge must be assigned within 15 days. Recusal and disqualification follow state civil rules, with limits on who can hear motions and when noncompliant motions may be denied.
Study on digital court recording
The Office of Court Administration is studying digital court recording. A workgroup of judges, shorthand reporter groups, recording providers, attorneys, and the public must help. The office must report findings and recommendations by October 1, 2026. This section ends September 1, 2027.
Who handles which filings at district courts
Beginning January 1, 2026, the district clerk is the clerk for most district criminal and civil matters, including family cases. The county clerk remains the clerk for Class A and B misdemeanors, juvenile, probate, and guardianship matters. Each clerk must keep a separate docket for each district court. This clarifies where to file and how cases are tracked.
Judges can skip some training
A judge or judicial officer can be excused from certain training by filing an affidavit. The judge must state they do not hear cases on family violence, sexual assault, trafficking, child abuse or neglect, or elder abuse or neglect. Filing the affidavit removes the training requirement for that judge.
More training on abuse for judges
The Court of Criminal Appeals ensures training on family violence, sexual assault, trafficking, child abuse, and elder abuse for judicial officers. Judges must complete five more hours of training each term or every four years, including two hours on child development and one hour on family violence. Judges in family courts must take an extra hour on family violence every two years.
Yearly court leadership training and travel help
The Office of Court Administration holds a yearly leadership conference for presiding judges, local administrative judges, and court administrators. It covers budgets, case data, and judge duties to improve court operations. The office may repay travel or conference costs for these officials if money is appropriated for that purpose.
Higher bar to serve as magistrate
Starting September 1, 2025, commissioners courts set each magistrate job’s qualifications, pay, benefits, and hours. To be appointed, you must have a Texas law license and at least two years in good standing with the State Bar.
New fees to file expunctions
You must pay fees to file for an expunction. In district court, you pay the court’s ex parte filing fee, plus $1 plus postage for each certified hearing notice, and $2 plus postage for each certified copy of the order. In a justice court or municipal court of record, the filing fee is $100. Fees are waived if you file within 30 days after an acquittal or you qualify after certain veterans treatment or mental health court programs. The mailing‑fee rule ends January 1, 2026; starting then, the fee is the district civil filing fee in district court and $100 in justice or municipal courts, with the same waivers.
Set court and clerk fees
You pay set fees for county clerk and court filings. A marriage license costs $60. A declaration of informal marriage costs $25. Bond approval is $5. Recording property records costs $5 for the first page and $4 for each extra page. Filing most civil cases costs $213, and common follow-up actions in those cases cost $35 each.
Court filings need more info and go digital
Parties in civil cases must give the clerk a name and current address. Individuals must also give the last three digits of a Social Security number or Texas driver’s license, unless they have not appeared or answered (tax cases are an exception). Courts must make electronic records searchable by party name, case number, and record date. You can sign a waiver of citation with a digitized signature. For driver’s license appeals that are not dismissed, the clerk must send the petition and hearing notice to the state’s lawyer by electronic or Rule 21a delivery.
Business and appeals courts map changes
The Second Business Court Division follows the Second Administrative Judicial Region, but not Montgomery or Bastrop Counties, and runs only if funded. The Third Business Court Division covers the Third Region and Bastrop County. The Fifteenth Court of Appeals’ temporary schedule now lasts through September 1, 2029. In civil appeals, you can request assignment to the Fifteenth Court only if your notice raises an issue in that court’s exclusive jurisdiction, for appeals filed on or after the law’s effective date.
County court powers and case routing
Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 4 gives criminal cases priority. In Bowie County, county courts at law share district court powers for family, juvenile, probate, and specialty courts. Bowie juries are 12 members in most cases, with six in misdemeanors and some concurrent cases, and judges can transfer cases between county and district courts. Bowie court reporters get pay equal to district court reporters. Potter County county courts at law can handle felony arraignments, pretrials, and uncontested pleas. Wichita County routes misdemeanors, probate, mental health, certain civil and family cases, and some appeals to the county court at law, and can transfer over‑limit civil cases to district court. The 2nd Multicounty Court at Law’s civil money cap is tied to Section 25.0003(c)(1). Some code subsections are repealed on January 1, 2026, to align with these changes.
Local DA elections and coverage changes
Starting September 1, 2028, San Augustine County voters elect the district attorney for the 1st Judicial District. Starting January 1, 2029, Maverick County voters elect the district attorney for the 293rd Judicial District, and the county may add local salary supplements; the DA also represents the state in some 365th District matters. Also on January 1, 2029, more prosecutors are covered by Chapter 46.
Supreme Court rules and code cleanup
The Supreme Court must file new rules 120 days before they take effect, allow 60 days for comments, and send lawmakers copies by December 1 before session. Old civil‑procedure laws from before May 15, 1939, stay in place only until the Court adopts a rule on that topic and lists the superseded laws. Any older Court rule that conflicts with this Act has no effect in new cases. The law also repeals the specific code sections listed. These steps make rule changes more transparent and update the statute books.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Paul Dyson
House
Bryan Hughes
Republican • Senate
Marc LaHood
House
Jeff Leach
House
Eddie Morales
House
Terry M. Wilson
House
Cosponsors
Paul Bettencourt
Republican • Senate
Donna Campbell
Republican • Senate
Jay Dean
House
Brent Hagenbuch
Republican • Senate
Richard Hayes
House
Adam Hinojosa
Republican • Senate
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa
Democratic • Senate
Ken King
House
Terri Leo Wilson
House
Shelley Luther
House
Tan Parker
Republican • Senate
Kevin Sparks
Republican • Senate
Judith Zaffirini
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 8/26/2025
Record vote
Yes: 30 • No: 0
Senate vote • 8/26/2025
Record vote
Yes: 30 • No: 0
House vote • 8/25/2025
Record vote
Yes: 130 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
See remarks for effective date
9/17/2025HouseSigned by the Governor
9/17/2025HouseSent to the Governor
8/28/2025HouseSigned in the Senate
8/28/2025SenateSigned in the House
8/28/2025HouseReported enrolled
8/27/2025HouseSenate passage reported
8/27/2025HouseRecord vote
8/26/2025SenatePassed
8/26/2025SenateRead 3rd time
8/26/2025SenateRecord vote
8/26/2025SenateThree day rule suspended
8/26/2025SenateVote recorded in Journal
8/26/2025SenateRead 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
8/26/2025SenateRules suspended-Regular order of business
8/26/2025SenateOrdered not printed
8/26/2025SenatePrinting rule suspended
8/26/2025SenateReported favorably w/o amendments
8/26/2025SenateVote taken in committee
8/26/2025SenateConsidered in public hearing
8/26/2025SenateScheduled for public hearing on . . .
8/26/2025SenateReferred to State Affairs
8/26/2025SenateRead first time
8/26/2025SenateReceived from the House
8/26/2025SenateCo-sponsor authorized
8/26/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
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