Transcript Highlights:

• And a lot of this kind of stuff with state parks, if it involves something small with a state park, of
• this amount of money. this amount of money.
• in charge of that. in charge of that.
• Many, most of the time, it needs new electrical. You have all of those things.
• And, of course, most of this is coming from public funds. Um, so we want to be aware of that.

Bills: SB88, SB337

Keywords: expungement, criminal records, courts, victim rights, rehabilitation, Alabama law, SB337, Montgomery County, probate judge, judge of probate, county officer compensation, salary increase, circuit judge parity, local legislation, county commission, general fund, public official pay, judicial compensation, Montgomery County Legislation, 1136

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of my Sorry.
• going to take the brunt of it. going to take the brunt of it.
• So, I don't know the the question of<00:20:13.640> our of our of our municipalities<00:20:15.920
• <00:23:16.920> for billions of dollars off of people for billions of dollars off of people
• <00:24:58.440> uh to talk her out of uh to talk her out of uh doing<00:24:59.520> of

Bills: SB59, SB221

Keywords: military families, immunization, education, public health, school enrollment, Mobile County, judge of probate, compensation, salary, expense allowance, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But then I think another sentence that says credible of a threat.
• Thank you for the honor of us being able to serve in this great house.
• Senate Bill 221 is a bill for the probate judge.
• judge left.
• Uh, Judge Pipes, I think most of you were at the meeting when he explained the need to get it out of

Bills: SB221, SB224, HB440

Keywords: Mobile County, judge of probate, compensation, salary, expense allowance, electronic monitoring, pretrial defendants, criminal justice, court programs, supervision fees, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of it is by one of the main exits on the interstate off of I-22, and Franklin County would like
• the Department of Corrections.
• the Department of Corrections.
• of Corrections?
• of Conservation or Department of Corrections?

Bills: SB337, HB520, HB75, SB337, HB520, HB75

Keywords: SB337, Montgomery County, probate judge, judge of probate, county officer compensation, salary increase, circuit judge parity, local legislation, county commission, general fund, public official pay, judicial compensation, Montgomery County Legislation, discrimination, immunization, facial coverings, healthcare rights, religious convictions, civil rights, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• In the early grades, almost 70% of the kids attend these extra voluntary weeks of school.
• And then by the end of last summer… By the end of last summer, we had 86%.
• reading and all of that.
• Um,... ...educators of the state of Alabama.
• a lot of time with.

Bills: HB447, HB447

Keywords: HB447, school buses, student transportation, public schools, local boards of education, dual enrollment, career technical education, CTE, community college, trade school, technical college, offsite educational venues, student access, transportation policy, school bus law, Alabama education law, Montgomery County, probate court, judge of probate, will registration

Transcript Highlights:

• I happen to be the presiding statutory probate court judge.
• like the rest of the statutory probate court judges?'
• All the statutory probate courts—there's 24 of those.
• judges are afraid of being sued because we've got lawyers that will sue a judge for breach of fiduciary
• And I send out a lot of statutory probate court judges to these rural counties because they ask me to

Bills: SB387, SB1650, SB1838, SB1839, SB1923, SB1940, SB2052

Keywords: judicial bond, guardianship, probate law, county judge, statutory county court, attorney general, criminal prosecution, public order, law enforcement, jurisdiction, attorney ad litem, parent-child relationship, compensation, legal representation, government entity, probate, court proceedings, record delivery, wills, legal documentation

Summary: The Senate Committee on Jurisprudence heard several family-law and probate bills. Senate Bill 2052 would codify a rebuttable presumption that a parent acts in the best interest of a child and require clear and convincing evidence to overcome that presumption in disputes involving non-parents; the author and several witnesses supported the bill as a clarification of existing case law, while one witness suggested refining the modification language. Public testimony was closed and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1923, which would allow child support to follow a child placed temporarily with kin or fictive kin under a parental child safety placement or authorization agreement; the bill’s author and a grandparent caregiver testified in support, while one witness suggested the Attorney General could handle the change administratively. That bill was also left pending. Senate Bill 1838 would standardize fee schedules and compensation rules for attorneys ad litem and related court-appointed counsel in DFPS child-protection cases. The author said the bill would clarify unclear current law, and witnesses from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission and family-defense bar supported it, though one asked that expert-witness expenses be expressly included. Senate Bill 387 would raise the bond requirement for county judges handling guardianship proceedings to at least $500,000; the author described it as a refiling of a prior bill that passed unanimously but was vetoed, and a statutory probate judge testified in support. Senate Bill 1839 would require original or paper wills to be delivered to the transferee court when probate proceedings are transferred; the committee substitute broadened the delivery methods, and the district clerk witness supported the change. All three bills were left pending. The committee also took up Senate Bill 1536, which had previously been voted out with the wrong committee substitute; members reconsidered the vote, adopted the corrected substitute, and then voted 3-0 to report the bill favorably to the full Senate, with local and contested calendar certification. Finally, Senate Bill 1940 would create a transfer-on-death mechanism for manufactured homes classified as personal property, similar to existing tools for real property and vehicles; the author and an estate-planning attorney testified that it would streamline transfers and reduce probate costs. A non-substantive committee substitute was still being prepared, and the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's sort of the need of the So that's sort of the need of the subpoena powers.
• The subpoenas could be served through the state superintendent of education or any circuit judge, magistrate
• , or district judge in the name of the department.
• Then it would be in front of an administrative law judge. Are they under oath at that time?
• of the people of Alabama.

Bills: SB324, HB395, HB222, HB310, HB285, HB144, HB251, HB380

Keywords: Morgan County, judge of probate, legal qualifications, equity jurisdiction, constitutional amendment, campaign finance, electronic notifications, civil penalties, Fair Campaign Practices Act, Secretary of State, sex offenders, treatment programs, electronic media, post office box restrictions, Class C felony, parole, probation, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo

Transcript Highlights:

• I happen to be the presiding statutory probate court judge.
• statutory probate court judges.
• And those judges are afraid of being sued because we've got lawyers that will sue a judge for breach
• And I send out a lot of statutory probate court judges to these rural counties because they ask. me to
• But after speaking... which Judge Herman and the probate judges, they did need the original will to go

Bills: SB387, SB1650, SB1838, SB1839, SB1923, SB1940, SB2052

Keywords: judicial bond, guardianship, probate law, county judge, statutory county court, attorney general, criminal prosecution, public order, law enforcement, jurisdiction, attorney ad litem, parent-child relationship, compensation, legal representation, government entity, probate, court proceedings, record delivery, wills, legal documentation

Transcript Highlights:

• some of that is happening now, >> Some of some of that is happening now, but<00:15:03.760>
• I just want to kind of come back around to the purpose of your function is protection of the public.
• Many of the properties we work with suffer from clouded titles caused by heir law, probate matters, complications
• Um, one of the things that the chairman of the Sunset and the chairman of this committee is that when
• the spirit of cooperation. the spirit of cooperation.

Bills: SB274, HB586

Keywords: cannabis, psychoactive cannabinoids, CBD, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC, delta-10 THC, criminal penalties, youth protection, medical cannabis, HB586, Cullman, Cullman County, City of Cullman, annexation, municipal boundaries, corporate limits, local legislation, boundary adjustment, city limits, municipal expansion

Transcript Highlights:

• It has bounced all over the place, as members of sunset are very well aware of.
• > of.
• We're allowing retired judges and clerks to participate on the board. >> Any questions of the members
• And that's part of it too.
• you're involving some retired judges. you're involving some retired judges.

Bills: HB150

Keywords: improvement district, special assessment, assessment lien, public infrastructure, bond financing, bond interest rate, county commission, tax assessor, tax collector, judge of probate, ad valorem tax, tax lien, tax sale, foreclosure, delinquent taxes, municipal finance, public improvements, infrastructure financing, collection enforcement, property lien

Transcript Highlights:

• However, if a party to a probate proceeding files a motion for the assignment of of a probate judge to
• Under current law, counties are required to pay the cost of a traveling probate judge. requires the parties
• of a contested probate proceeding to reimburse the county for the cost of traveling of the traveling
• All right, thank you, Judge Herman. Any questions of Judge Herman? Show of vise, chair. Mr.
• Thank you, Judge Herman. Any questions of Judge Herman, members?

Bills: SB387, SB1335, HB1671, SB1760, SB1839, SB1923, HB1928, HB4942, HB5628, HB5642, HB1980

Keywords: judicial bond, guardianship, probate law, county judge, statutory county court, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, retroactive child support, parentage, genetic testing, family code, child's conception, incapacitated persons, court proceedings, guardianship fees, estate management, probate

Bills: SB 302, SB 1335, SB 1734, SB 1760, SB 1975, SB 2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, guardianship, incapacitated persons, guardianship fees

Transcript Highlights:

• probate courts match those of statutory county and district courts.
• Judge Herman, I have you here on behalf of the statutory probate judges of Texas and yourself registered
• I'm Guy Herman, presiding statutory probate court judge here in the state of Texas. Thank you.
• This training would ensure judges are aware of the signs of elder abuse and better enable them to spot
• I'm now being abused and exploited by the probate court. I'm a victim of elder abuse.

Bills: SB1015, SB2933

Keywords: 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, revenue distribution, SB 2933, elder abuse, neglect, judicial training

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence heard testimony on Senate Bill 1015, which would clarify that the comptroller is responsible for distributing excess judicial fund payments back to statutory probate courts. Judge Guy Herman testified in support, saying the bill would help ensure probate courts receive funding they are entitled to, while Ed Heimlich testified against the bill with broad criticism of probate courts and judicial practices. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2933, which would add elder abuse training to required judicial education for several categories of judges and judicial officers; Dr. Bruce Hargrave supported the bill, citing the prevalence and underreporting of elder abuse and the need for judges to recognize warning signs. No votes were taken on either of those bills, and SB 2933 was left pending. The committee then reconsidered Senate Bill 38, an eviction-related bill, and Vice Chair Hayes described two agreed floor amendments: one limiting the summary disposition procedure to forcible entry and detainer cases involving squatters, and another requiring a notice to pay rent or vacate for tenants who had been timely payers but missed a payment. After discussion, the committee voted 6-4 to report SB 38 without amendments. The committee also adopted or advanced a series of other bills and resolutions, including SB 293, SB 1141, SB 1448, SB 1536, SB 1558, SB 1838, SB 1940, SB 2127, SB 53, SB 251, SB 311, SB 387, SB 441 (with a substitute), SB 1164, SB 1335, SB 1574 (with a substitute), SB 1719, SB 1760, SB 1839, SB 1923 (with a substitute), SB 2807, and SJR 27 (with a substitute). Most measures were reported favorably on largely party-line or near-unanimous votes, with a few close votes on SB 942, SB 311, SB 2807, and SJR 27. SB 942, relating to retroactive child support beginning at conception, initially failed 5-5 but was reconsidered and then passed 6-5. The committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• probate courts match those of statutory county and district courts.
• Judge Herman, I have you here on behalf of the statutory probate judges of Texas and yourself registered
• I'm Guy Herman, presiding statutory probate court judge here in the state of Texas. Thank you.
• Guy Herman, presiding statutory probate court judge here in the state of Texas.
• This training would ensure judges are aware of the signs of elder abuse and better enable them to spot

Bills: SB1015, SB2933

Keywords: 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, revenue distribution, SB 2933, elder abuse, neglect, judicial training

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair lays out, as a matter of pending business, Senate Bill 2052. Best interests of the child.
• The chair lays out Senate Bill 1335 as a matter of pending business.
• As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out Senate Bill 1734.
• As a matter of pending business, the chair lays out Senate Bill 2127, which is about the assignment of
• retired and former judges and justices.

Bills: SB302, SB1335, SB1734, SB1760, SB1975, SB2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• In probate proceedings, letters of testamentary or letters of administration are issued to allow a personal
• the Justice or judge for the duration of the assignment.
• However, if a party to a probate proceeding files a motion to assign a ... assignment to a probate judge
• There are only 12 counties with a permanent probate judge out of 254.
• traveling probate judge, they will have to pay for it.

Bills: SB302, SB1335, SB1734, SB1760, SB1975, SB2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 302 traveling probate judge reimbursement is a rural county.
• However, if a party to a probate proceedings files a motion to assign of assignment to a probate judge
• Under current law, counties are required to pay for the cost of the traveling judge.
• So, um, it costs, local, there's only 12 counties with a permanent probate judge.
• A traveling probate judge, they're going to have to pay it.

Bills: SB 302, SB 1335, SB 1734, SB 1760, SB 1975, SB 2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Military-friendly protects our military assets from moving out of the state of Alabama.
• I was still in the process of getting, you know, working with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• The name of an individual with military preference with an augmented rating shall be entered ahead of
• with the Department of Veterans working with the Department of Veterans Affairs.<00:03:57.200> So
• c> shall be entered ahead of the name of an shall be entered ahead of the name of an in<00:05:22.800>

Bills: HB292, HB307, SB33, HB292, HB307, SB33

Keywords: economic development, incentives, transparency, compliance, Alabama Jobs Act, speedy trial, visiting judge, court administration, public interest, criminal justice, SB33, marriage, premarital class, conflict resolution, marriage license reform, probate judge, Administrative Office of Courts, AOC, domestic violence, intimate partner violence

Transcript Highlights:

• the justice or judge for the duration of the assignment.
• However, if a party to a probate proceeding files a motion to assign a probate judge to hear a contested
• There's only 12 counties with a permanent probate judge. Out of 2,154, there's a...
• Only 12 counties with a permanent probate judge.
• probate judge, they're going to have to pay it.

Bills: SB302, SB1335, SB1734, SB1760, SB1975, SB2127

Keywords: probate court, statutory judge, reimbursement, court costs, court proceedings, judicial assignments, judge assignment, cost reimbursement, judicial expenses, estate management, statutory requirement, court expenses, estates, inheritance, representative duties, court authority, personal representative, real property, deed fraud, title fraud

Summary: The committee heard several probate, family law, judicial, property, and contract-related bills. Senate Bill 1335, relating to decedents’ estates, would remove outdated references to a clerk’s certificate, allow courts to remove personal representatives on their own motion with notice by qualified delivery method, and add independent administrators to provisions that referenced only independent executors; an estate-planning attorney testified in support, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1760, concerning guardianship transfer fees and procedures, was described as setting a $45 filing fee for transferred guardianship cases and clarifying completion and dismissal procedures; it received no testimony and was left pending. Senate Bill 2127 would shorten the eligibility period for retired judges to serve as visiting judges from eight years to six, restrict practice in their assigned region for two years, and require conflict-related certification; it also was left pending without testimony. Senate Bill 302 would shift the cost of a traveling probate judge to the requesting estate or parties rather than the county; one witness registered in favor, no one testified, and the bill was left pending. The committee then considered a committee substitute for Senate Bill 252, which would clarify the parental presumption in conservatorship cases, require non-parents seeking relief against a parent to file an affidavit showing significant impairment to the child if relief is denied, require courts to state specific findings when overcoming the presumption, confirm the clear-and-convincing standard, and clarify that agreed prior orders do not defeat the presumption. The substitute was explained as consensus language from a work group, public testimony was reopened, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1734, on deed fraud, would create a streamlined ex parte process for property owners to have fraudulent deeds declared void, modeled on the fraudulent lien statute; county clerk and title association representatives testified that it would provide a low-cost self-help remedy for a growing problem, and the bill was left pending subject to the chair. Senate Bill 1975 would prevent Texas contractors from being forced to litigate disputes in foreign jurisdictions and require disputes to be handled in the county where the project is located; it was presented as a repeat of a previously vetoed bill and was left pending. Finally, the committee took up a substitute for Senate Bill 1940, concerning transfer-on-death style beneficiary designations for manufactured homes. The substitute would allow one or more beneficiaries instead of only one, transfer the interest to surviving designated beneficiaries who survive by 120 hours, extend the application period for transfer to 365 days, void the designation if not timely filed, and require mailing by certified or registered mail with return receipt requested. The substitute was adopted without objection. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, uh, couple of guests greeted today. I... Uh, a couple of guests greeted today.
• All of the landowners have... All of the landowners have been... is this. Which talking?
• of Daphne.
• Then with, I guess, fears of annexation.
• But that has not been a posture or mode of operation of this delegation over the last couple of decades

Bills: HB446, HB485

Keywords: HB446, Daphne, Baldwin County, annexation, municipal boundary, corporate limits, local act, municipal incorporation, city limits expansion, zoning, land use, property tax, municipal services, Section 11-42-6, Judge of Probate, County Road 54 W, County Road 64, Rigsby Road, Highway 181, Alabama State Highway 181