Transcript Highlights:

• It represents real threats and dangers that are judicially... system and the public face daily.
• take decisive action and make a meaningful difference in the security. our Texas courts and the judicial
• Furlow, here for yourself and the 106th Judicial District, and you are against the bill.
• Jennifer Lundy I show you as with Texans for judicial accountability and you are against the bill.
• It's going to change judicial rules or judicial financial interest or special interest in many . . .

Bills: HB 1181, HB3704, HB1363, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB3223, HB1317, HB2884, HB2176, HB4027, HB1664, HB933, HB2613, HB3353, HB2086, HB4101, HB3441, HB4145, HB3455

Keywords: judiciary, judges, justices, retired, legal assignments, judicial conduct, notary public, criminal offense, education requirements, official documents, record retention, implicit bias, bias training, judicial training, judge education, court personnel, continuing legal education, CLE, state bar, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Transcript Highlights:

• they're 50% below, they budget 100% for double the officers, and then they use that money as excess salary
• You made a comment about Birmingham. ...and then they use that money as excess salary money for all kinds
• study again to try to compete a little bit with Birmingham and other communities as it relates to salaries
• c><00:54:18.800> relates<00:54:19.119> to<00:54:19.839> uh<00:54:20.079> salaries
• communities as it relates to uh salaries communities as it relates to uh salaries and<00:54:20.720

Bills: HB450, HB469, SB298, HB450, HB638, HB469, SB298

Keywords: HB450, judges, judicial office, constitutional amendment, Alabama Constitution, age limit, mandatory retirement, judicial eligibility, supernumerary judge, judicial retirement, state judicial retirement benefits, election law, appointment, voter approval, ballot measure, Judiciary Committee, ambulance services, balance billing, health insurance, emergency transportation

Bills: HB 2242, HB 2446, HB 2799, HB 4502, HB 2920, HB 2790, HB 5620, HB 5060, HB 5076, HB 5080, HB 5081, HB 5128, HB 5130, HB 3847, HB 5116, HB 2969, HB 4546, HB 4202, HB 5624, HB 3964, HB 4803, HB 872, HB 4775, HB 4777, HB 4961, HB 5570, HB 2988, HB 4260, HB 1375, HB 5009, HB 5411, HB 5134, HB 4388, HB 3095, HB 1387

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial Conduct.
• Judicial personal identifying information by data brokers.
• So if we broke down the state-court-at-law judge's salary...
• So if we broke down the state costs, including the new judge's salary and the associated personnel salary
• We've collected salaries for judges, retirement for judges.

Bills: HB2242, HB2446, HB2799, HB4502, HB2920, HB2790, HB5620, HB5060, HB5076, HB5080, HB5081, HB5128, HB5130, HB3847, HB5116, HB2969, HB4546, HB4202, HB5624, HB3964, HB4803, HB872, HB4775, HB4777, HB4961, HB5570, HB2988, HB4260, HB1375, HB5009, HB5411, HB5134, HB4388, HB3095, HB1387

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 4961, which would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision. The author said the bill is intended to create incentives to maintain insurance and to address what he described as an unfair system for insured drivers. Texans for Lawsuit Reform and Texas Eagle Forum testified in support, while the Texas Trial Lawyers Association opposed it, warning the bill could also affect pedestrians, passengers, children, and others who did not choose whether a vehicle was insured. The bill author clarified that passengers would be included in the bill’s coverage. No vote was taken and the bill was left pending. House Bill 5570 would extend a legislative attorney CLE exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate to boards or commissions. The author said the measure is meant to ease time burdens and encourage service, and a witness supported it as a modest incentive for public service. A committee member noted a discrepancy in the number of affected attorneys, and the author agreed to verify the correct figure. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 2969, which would restrict the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech based on sincerely held beliefs. The author and several witnesses from Texas Values, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Cecilia Wood argued the bill protects lawyers of faith from an ABA model rule they described as a speech code. No one testified against the bill, and it was left pending. House Bill 4260, which would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction, drew opposition from the County Judges and Commissioners Association, which argued existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would burden rural officials. The author said the bill was prompted by concerns about judges using their office to pressure others. The bill was left pending. House Bill 5134 would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect actual damages and would allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill is aimed at preventing harassment and fishing expeditions, especially in family-law disputes. Questions focused on how the standard would work and how it differs from current law; the author said the main change is fee-shifting and a clearer legislative directive. The bill was left pending. House Bill 3095, a committee substitute version of a similar uninsured-motorist bill, would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages and limit economic recovery, with several exceptions. Trial lawyers argued it was unconstitutional because it capped economic damages and could unfairly affect innocent drivers, pedestrians, and older people who no longer drive. The author acknowledged constitutional concerns and said the bill would need further work; the committee withdrew the substitute and left the bill pending. Finally, House Bill 4388 would require all judges, including county judges who perform administrative duties, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct. Supporters said some elected judges avoid accountability by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents argued the bill is too rigid and unnecessary because existing remedies already exist. House Bill 3964 would limit public nuisance claims to their historical role and bar such claims against lawful conduct, conduct already covered by other remedies, and products. The author and supporters said the bill is meant to prevent courts from using public nuisance to make policy, while opponents argued it would eliminate useful remedies and could affect local actions against environmental or product-related harms. The author said the bill would not affect statutory nuisance claims, private nuisance claims, or other causes of action, and would be amended to clarify some provisions. The bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial Conduct.
• So if we broke down the state-court-at-law judge's salary.
• So if we broke down the state costs, including the new judge's salary and the associated personnel salary
• So the threshold for needing a new court is judicial time.
• We've collected salaries for judges, retirement for judges.

Bills: HB2242, HB2446, HB2799, HB4502, HB2920, HB2790, HB5620, HB5060, HB5076, HB5080, HB5081, HB5128, HB5130, HB3847, HB5116, HB2969, HB4546, HB4202, HB5624, HB3964, HB4803, HB872, HB4775, HB4777, HB4961, HB5570, HB2988, HB4260, HB1375, HB5009, HB5411, HB5134, HB4388, HB3095, HB1387

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills affecting civil practice, judicial conduct, and attorney regulation. HB 4961 and the similar HB 3095 would bar uninsured motorists from recovering non-economic damages after a collision, with HB 3095 also addressing certain exceptions and limiting economic damages in some cases. Supporters said the measures would encourage insurance coverage and fairness for insured drivers, while opponents argued they would unfairly punish injured people who were not responsible for the lack of insurance, including pedestrians, passengers, children, and others. HB 3095 drew constitutional concerns from witnesses, and the committee later withdrew the committee substitute and left the bill pending; HB 4961 was also left pending after questions about its scope, including passengers. HB 5570 would expand a continuing legal education exemption to attorneys appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate who serve on boards or commissions. The author and witness said the bill would free up time for public service while still requiring ethics training. A committee member raised a discrepancy in the number of attorneys covered, and the bill was left pending. HB 2969 would prohibit the State Bar from adopting rules or penalties that unreasonably burden attorneys’ religious exercise or free speech, especially in relation to sincerely held religious beliefs. Supporters framed it as a protection for lawyers of faith against an ABA-style speech code, while no one testified in opposition; the bill was left pending. HB 4260 would prohibit county judges and county commissioners from practicing law in courts over which they have jurisdiction. The author described it as an ethics measure to avoid conflicts of interest, but county officials and the County Judges and Commissioners Association opposed it, saying existing ethics rules already address conflicts and that the bill would impose hardships, especially in rural counties. The bill was left pending. HB 4388 would require all judges, including those who serve only in administrative roles, to remain subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct; supporters said some judges avoid discipline by relinquishing judicial functions, while opponents said the bill was unnecessary and could burden county judges who serve as administrators. It was also left pending. The committee also heard HB 5134, which would limit Rule 202 pre-suit depositions to people who have suffered or reasonably expect to suffer actual damages and allow attorney’s fees against abusive petitioners. The author said the bill would curb harassment and fishing expeditions, but members questioned how the standard would work in practice; the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 3964 would narrow common-law public nuisance claims by barring suits over lawful conduct, conduct already addressed by other remedies, and products, while preserving other causes of action. Supporters said the bill would prevent regulation through litigation and protect legislative authority; opponents said it would eliminate important remedies and that no Texas abuse had been shown. The author indicated he would revise the bill, and it was left pending.

Bills: HB2242, HB2446, HB2799, HB4502, HB2920, HB2790, HB5620, HB5060, HB5076, HB5080, HB5081, HB5128, HB5130, HB3847, HB5116, HB2969, HB4546, HB4202, HB5624, HB3964, HB4803, HB872, HB4775, HB4777, HB4961, HB5570, HB2988, HB4260, HB1375, HB5009, HB5411, HB5134, HB4388, HB3095, HB1387

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We passed that bill back then, and I know since then that the Judge Julie Kosurik Judicial and Courthouse
• It came out of, you know, Judicial Council and consultations with a number of these courts.
• That's what the Judicial Council's recommendations have been focused on. ...And your recommendation is
• Currently, the Judge is serving the 51st, 119th, 306th, 440th, and 391st Judicial Districts, which cover
• This bill addresses the inefficiencies. ...by authorizing district judges in four judicial districts

Bills: HB2242, HB2446, HB2799, HB4502, HB2920, HB2790, HB5620, HB5060, HB5076, HB5080, HB5081, HB5128, HB5130, HB3847, HB5116, HB2969, HB4546, HB4202, HB5624, HB3964, HB4803, HB872, HB4775, HB4777, HB4961, HB5570, HB2988, HB4260, HB1375, HB5009, HB5411, HB5134, HB4388, HB3095, HB1387

Keywords: constables, civil rights, local government, law enforcement, policy-making authority, affidavit, medical bills, civil actions, reasonable charges, healthcare services, judicial statistics, court performance, family law, civil cases, efficiency reporting, court security, emergency management, harassment penalties, judicial safety, court committee

Bills: SR1, SR2

Keywords: Texas Senate, senate rules, caucus report, legislative administration, senate officers, parliamentarian, assistant parliamentarian, secretary of the senate, sergeant-at-arms, calendar clerk, journal clerk, doorkeeper, enrolling clerk, senate staff, employee policies, leave policy, compensatory time, outside employment, staff salaries, per diem

Summary: The Senate reconvened from recess and received a message from the House stating that the House was organized and ready to conduct business. The House also reported passage of SCR 7, which directs the State Preservation Board to begin steps to replace the Children of the Confederacy plaque with a plaque honoring victims of Texas’s convict leasing system. The Senate then took up and adopted Senate Resolution 1, the caucus resolution offered by Senator Zaffirini, which sets recommendations for Senate operations. The officers of the Senate were then sworn in. Next, the chamber considered Senate Resolution 2, the Rules Resolution, offered by Senator Hughes; it was adopted by a 31-0 roll call vote and makes only limited changes to committee structure while retaining prior rules. The Senate also authorized the President to appoint a five-member committee to notify the House that the Senate was organized and ready to transact business. Senator Eckhardt introduced the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Liu, a family medicine physician from Austin. With no further business, the Senate recessed until 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 22.

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial salaries have also been an issue that the...
• in higher salaries for elected prosecutors.
• Chairman, and thank you Madam Chair for your continued efforts to raise judicial salaries. to do it in
• As and I know you can't really collaborate a judicial salary versus a private attorney but private attorneys
• So judicial pay plays into the democratic process and the true cure for our weakness in the judicial

Bills: SB260, SB263, SB293, SJR18

Keywords: school safety, Foundation School Program, education funding, student allotment, Texas education, SB 263, Texas franchise tax, cost of goods sold, COGS, broadcasters, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, media tax, broadcast license, FCC, 47 C.F.R. Part 73, 47 C.F.R. Part 74, film production, television production, tax deduction

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial education on elder abuse is essential to ensure informed, compassionate, and effective legal
• determine the proper allocation of funds and specify that statutory probate court judges are paid out of judicial

Bills: SB629, SB1015, SB2501, SB2933

Keywords: child support, interest accrual, family law, delinquency, financial judgment, statutory probate courts, probate court fees, judicial fund, county reimbursement, comptroller, Texas Government Code, Local Government Code, court fees, fee allocation, excess contributions, judicial education and support fund, presiding judge salary, county finance, court administration, Texas judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a judge at the Second Judicial District Court in the family division.
• Madam Chair, House Bill 95 is to create a 31st district judge position in the Second Judicial District
• since 1997, even though it is consistently one of the largest dockets that we have in the Second Judicial
• “If we had a fifth judicial officer to be able to help carry the load and process the cases, I believe
• “And I think we should have the fifth judicial—excuse me, the fifth judge added for family court.

Bills: HB70, HB93, HB95, HB139, HB140, HJR4

Keywords: Public Regulation Commission, PRC, utility oversight fund, public utilities, utility regulation, commissioners, commission staff, chief of staff, ethics, Gift Act, revolving door, post-employment restrictions, consumer complaints, telecommunications, pipeline safety, natural gas pipelines, oil pipelines, license fees, regulatory oversight, administrative cleanup

Bills: SB 266, SB 1018, SB 1415, SB 1527, SB 1737, SB 1738, SJR 57

Keywords: tax collection, managed audits, taxpayer rights, dispute resolution, penalty, sales tax exemption, clothing, footwear, school items, economic relief, public retirement systems, pension funding, police benefits, firefighter pensions, municipality contributions, actuarial assumptions, amortization, administrative requirements, judicial retirement, service credit

Bills: SB 266, SB 1018, SB 1415, SB 1527, SB 1737, SB 1738, SJR 57

Keywords: tax collection, managed audits, taxpayer rights, dispute resolution, penalty, sales tax exemption, clothing, footwear, school items, economic relief, public retirement systems, pension funding, police benefits, firefighter pensions, municipality contributions, actuarial assumptions, amortization, administrative requirements, judicial retirement, service credit

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, the Texas Judicial Commission on mental health, chaired by Justice Jane Bland, of which Speaker
• Christy, I have you here on behalf of the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health, registered on the
• Members, this SJR deals with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which is created to protect. .
• Thomas, I have you here on behalf of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, registered on the bill
• I'm the General Counsel for the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Bills: SJR27, SB53, SB311, SB1164, SB2807, SB1574, SB 53

Keywords: judicial conduct, state commission, judicial misconduct, commission membership, constitutional amendment, mental health, court proceedings, notice requirements, legal filings, electronic documents, Texas Supreme Court, writ power, mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, procedendo, extraordinary writs, Government Code Section 22.002, separation of powers, judicial authority

Transcript Highlights:

• 3095, relating to the Hawaii Employer Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, Investment Office Staff Salaries
• <00:58:50.240> health Relating to the Employee Union Health Benefits Trust Fund staff salaries
• Moving on to SB 3264 SD1 relating to the Hawaii Employer Union Health Benefits Trust Fund staff salaries
• /c><01:25:52.800> staff Health Benefits Trust Fund staff Health Benefits Trust Fund staff salaries
• We'll also be adding a salaries.

Bills: SB2543, SB2014, SB2115, SB3095, SB3264, SB2114, SB2117, SB2246, SB2519, SB3055, SB3131, SB3144

Keywords: state construction, construction manager, design review, public works, capital improvement, DAGS, Department of Accounting and General Services, DOE, Department of Education, comptroller, pilot program, design review special fund, county permit review, accessibility compliance, Disability and Communication Access Board, state infrastructure, government construction, project oversight, civil service exemption, county agencies

Bills: SR1, SR2

Keywords: Texas Senate, senate rules, caucus report, legislative administration, senate officers, parliamentarian, assistant parliamentarian, secretary of the senate, sergeant-at-arms, calendar clerk, journal clerk, doorkeeper, enrolling clerk, senate staff, employee policies, leave policy, compensatory time, outside employment, staff salaries, per diem

Transcript Highlights:

• Judicial and public safety are approving the rules submitted by February 1st due date for the agencies

Bills: HJR1086, SB392

Keywords: judicial rules, public safety, state agencies, permanent rules, legislative approval, 914, all

Keywords: Joint Assembly - Judicial Retention - 2025-03-20 - 10:30AM, 927, senate, all

Bills: HB78

Keywords: Baldwin County, court proceedings, nonjury cases, branch courthouses, judicial authority, 1136, house, all

Bills: HB166, HB487, SB130, SB181, HB166, HB487, SB130, SB181

Keywords: education policy, wireless communication devices, internet safety, social media, mental health, HB487, Alabama G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program, veterans, disabled veterans, dependents, spouse benefits, widow benefits, children of veterans, tuition assistance, education benefits, scholarship, college aid, undergraduate tuition, private school reimbursement, books and fees