Relating to the appointment and compensation of a bailiff appointed by the judges of certain district courts in Webb County.
Summary
HB 3104 amends the Texas Government Code to update which district court judges in Webb County are required to appoint a bailiff. The bill removes the 341st district court from the general list of courts covered by Section 53.001(a), while leaving in place the requirement for judges of the 30th, 70th, 71st, 78th, 89th, and 161st district courts, as well as certain courts in Taylor and Harrison counties.
The bill also repeals related provisions in Sections 53.001(i) and 53.009(d), and it includes a transition rule preserving the status of any bailiff already appointed by the 341st or 406th district court before the effective date. Those existing bailiffs may continue serving and receiving compensation from Webb County under the prior law, including longevity and cost-of-living increases, even after the new law takes effect on September 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 3104 narrows and clarifies the statutory framework governing bailiff appointments and compensation for certain district courts, primarily affecting Webb County. It changes the list of courts whose judges must appoint bailiffs and preserves compensation rights for incumbent bailiffs appointed before the effective date, thereby avoiding disruption to current personnel and county payroll practices. The bill directly amends Government Code Section 53.001 and repeals related provisions that are no longer needed under the revised structure.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House by a large margin and the Senate unanimously, with no committee transcript indicating significant debate. The voting history suggests general agreement that the measure was a routine administrative or local-government adjustment rather than a contentious policy change.
Contention
No major points of contention are evident in the available record. The only potentially sensitive issue is the treatment of existing bailiffs from the 341st and 406th district courts, but the bill expressly protects their continued service and compensation under prior law. Any discussion would likely have centered on administrative alignment of court staffing authority in Webb County rather than on broader policy disagreements.
Business courts; creating business court divisions in certain judicial districts; providing for appointment of business court judges; specifying authority and jurisdiction of business court. Effective date.
Business courts; creating business court divisions in certain judicial districts; providing for appointment of business court judges; specifying authority and jurisdiction of business court. Effective date.