All Roll Calls
Yes: 842 • No: 51
TexasSB 29389th Legislature Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Relating to the discipline of judges by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, notice of certain reprimands, judicial compensation and related retirement benefits, and the reporting of certain judicial transparency information; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Sponsored By: Joan Huffman (Republican), Jeff Leach
Signed by Governor
Civil Remedies & LiabilitiesCourts--County & StatutoryCourts--DistrictCourts--JudgesCourts--PersonnelElectronic Information SystemsGovernorLegislatureMental Health & Substance AbuseRetirement Systems--JudicialSalaries & ExpensesLIEUTENANT GOVERNORPUBLIC NOTICESPEAKER OF THE HOUSESTATUTES OF LIMITATIONSTELECONFERENCINGCOURT ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OFCRIMINAL APPEALS, COURT OFETHICS COMMISSION, TEXASJUDICIAL CONDUCT, STATE COMMISSION ONSUPREME COURT
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 5 costs, 7 mixed.
Higher pay for Texas judges
Beginning September 1, 2025, district and business-court division judges have a minimum state base salary of $175,000, up from $140,000. Most appeals court justices receive 110% of the district base; the two highest courts receive 120%. Fifteenth Court of Appeals justices receive $5,000 less than 120%, and appellate chiefs and presiding judges get an extra 7%. Local administrative district judges get an extra 3%, 5%, or 7% in counties with 3–4, 5–9, or 10-plus district courts; business-court administrative presiding judges get 7%. Combined-pay limits remain: district judges' state and county pay cannot exceed $5,000 below the regular appeals-justice maximum, and specified appellate-chief extra pay is excluded from caps.
New pension base with payment caps
The standard elected-class pension uses years of service multiplied by 2.3% of $175,000, subject to statutory exceptions. Covered elected-class account balances also use the pension calculation amount, including commission adjustments. The Texas Ethics Commission must publish an adjustment method by September 1, 2026. Starting August 31, 2030, it must consider an increase every five years, but increases are not automatic. Annual pensions cannot exceed 100% of the applicable adjusted amount or district judge state salary.
Returning judges get pension options, costs
Retired judges returning to full-time service, rather than covered temporary assignments, can rejoin after six full consecutive months away. They must elect within 60 days after taking the oath and contribute 9.5% of state pay. After at least 24 months back, pensions are recalculated using the highest covered annual state salary and added service credit. With less than 24 months, suspended pension payments resume and contributions are refunded; optional pensions subtract payment months received before returning. Separately, elected contributions under the two covered optional-contribution rules rise from 6% to 9.5% of state pay each pay period.
Earlier judicial retirees miss pension increase
Pensions based on judges who retired before September 1, 2025, do not use the 2025 district judge salary increase. They keep the district judge salary base for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. That base remains until a later legislature enacts an increase to it.
Judges face health reviews, keep pay
Complaints questioning a judge's ability to work because of substance abuse or physical or mental incapacity require preliminary review within 30 days. After the judge appears, an ordered examination requires written notice and paid suspension for up to 90 days. If evidence shows the judge cannot work, the commission must recommend suspension or agree to voluntary paid suspension until recovery. If the judge refuses an examination, the commission can seek a court order compelling it and recommend suspension.
Court motions get firm ruling deadlines
New deadlines cover summary judgment motions filed on or after September 1, 2025, in business, district, and statutory county courts. Courts must hear or consider these requests to decide cases without trial within 45 days after the response is filed. A written ruling is due within 90 days afterward; without oral argument, the docket must record the consideration date. Clerks report compliance at least quarterly, and the Office of Court Administration publishes an annual report by December 31. Supreme Court rules cannot change or repeal these requirements.
Retired judges face stricter assignment eligibility
Retired or former judges seeking the eligible assignment list must swear they have no unrescinded public reprimand or censure. They may have no more than one other unrescinded public sanction. Sanctions rescinded by a special court of review do not count.
District judges must report work hours
District judges must attest to and report the prior six months' work hours by January 20 and July 20. Reports separate courthouse or court-facility presiding time from other judicial work, including casework, administration, and continuing education. Regional presiding judges transmit the information under Supreme Court instructions, with electronic collection supported by the Office of Court Administration. That office sends a combined annual report to designated state and legislative officials by December 1. Supreme Court rules set reporting instructions and a penalty for false information.
Judges face broader discipline rules
Judicial conduct rules now cover justices of the peace and people performing that judicial role. Expanded discipline grounds cover willful or persistent failures to meet required deadlines, performance standards, or case-clearance requirements. They also cover persistent or willful violations of bail-setting and court teleconference rules; expanded grounds apply to allegations received after September 1, 2025. For formal proceedings over persistent or willful bail-rule violations, the commission must recommend suspension within 21 days. Such bail violations also become grounds for state-officer removal proceedings, but do not automatically remove an officer.
Knowingly false judge complaints face fines
The judicial conduct commission can fine people who knowingly file false complaints. The maximum is $500 for the first false complaint and $2,500 for the second. For each later false complaint, an imposed fine must range from $5,000 to $10,000. Penalty and other sanction orders are public records, and the commission must post notice on its website.
Judge complaints gain time, face limits
People filing judicial conduct complaints have 45 days after filing to send more supporting documents. The commission must add those documents to the complaint file. It generally must dismiss complaints filed seven years or more after the misconduct, or after the complainant knew or reasonably should have known. The commission can investigate an older complaint when it finds good cause.
Judge investigations get deadlines and safeguards
Staff must report pending complaints at least 10 days before meetings; the commission generally acts within 120 days of the first reported meeting. Extensions can add up to 240 days for special circumstances and another 90 days for multiple allegations or complaints. Judges can attend meetings reporting their complaint and must receive full-investigation notice within seven business days. Action notices are due within five business days when no further action is taken, or seven business days otherwise. Staff must recommend dismissing unfounded or frivolous complaints and can dismiss those blocked by administrative defects, with notice within five business days. The commission can pause work that threatens a police investigation, continue noninterfering work, and still issue discipline.
Judges get revised discipline review procedures
Judges receiving covered sanctions or censures can request review, but not after the commission decides to start formal proceedings. Removal or retirement recommendations go to a panel of seven appeals court justices. The Texas Supreme Court chief justice selects those panel members instead of selection by lot.
Remote arguments get court location rules
When a court orders oral arguments by phone or video, parties and lawyers can join from any location. The court must join from a courtroom or another state-provided facility. Urgent circumstances allow the court to use another location.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Joan Huffman
Republican • Senate
Jeff Leach
House
Cosponsors
Paul Bettencourt
Republican • Senate
Charles Perry
Republican • Senate
Charles Schwertner
Republican • Senate
Royce West
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/2/2025
Record vote
Yes: 114 • No: 26
House vote • 6/2/2025
Record vote
Yes: 127 • No: 15
Senate vote • 6/2/2025
Record vote
Yes: 31 • No: 0
House vote • 5/27/2025
Record vote
Yes: 128 • No: 4
House vote • 5/26/2025
Record vote
Yes: 140 • No: 3
House vote • 5/26/2025
Record vote
Yes: 137 • No: 2
House vote • 5/26/2025
Record vote
Yes: 140 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/12/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/12/2025
Record vote
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Finance
Yes: 15 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
Committee vote: Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
House Committee Report
Introduced
Senate Committee Report
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