Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced
Texas SJR 53 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides "the judicial branch of the State has no authority to interfere or issue a judgment or opinion on the actions of the Legislature" regarding public school funding levels. In Senate Education Committee.
Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced
NONE
Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity
Arkansas HB 1458 Repeals law held as unconstitutional that a judge removed from office through state's judicial disciplinary process may never hold judicial office again. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 3/24/2015. Approved by full Senate 3/26/2015. Transmitted to Governor for approval 3/27/2015.
Idaho SB 1170 Rewords and clarifies language regarding qualifications/legal residence/practice of law for magistrates and judges. Approved by full Senate 3/25/2015.
Maryland SB 847 (Constitutional Amendment) ORIGINAL: Increases mandatory judicial retirement age from 70 to 75. AMENDED: Increases to 73. Applies only to judges elected/appointed after approval of amendment by voters. Approved by full Senate 3/24/2015.
North Carolina HB 50 Allows judges to serve until the *end of the year* they reach 72 (currently may serve until *end of the month*). Approved by House Pensions and Retirement Committee 3/24/2015. Approved by full House3/25/2015.
Tennessee HB 703 Permits a county that has elected to permit judicial commissioners to receive continuing education from the general sessions judge that appointed the commissioners, rather than the judicial commissioners association of Tennessee or the Tennessee court clerks association, to rescind that action by two-thirds majority vote. Approved by House Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee 3/25/2015.
Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced
NONE
Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced
NONE
Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity
Arkansas SB 886 Sets accounting standards for courts and agencies or contractors used by courts to recover criminal fees and fines. Approved by Senate Committee on City, County, & Local Affairs 3/24/2015. Approved by full Senate 3/25/2015.
Georgia HB 279 Repeals annual cost of living adjustments for judges and replaces with new cost of living adjustment system. Approved by Senate Appropriations Committee 3/25/2015.
Kansas HB 2005 AS AMENDED: Creates or amends law related to docket fees, dispositive motion filing fees, and the Electronic Filing and Management Fund. Provides funding only to occur if courts uphold as constitutional HB 2338 of 2014. Approved by Senate Ways & Means Committee 3/23/15.
Kansas HB 2112 Allows the Board of Trustees of a county law library to authorize the chief judge of the judicial district to use fees collected pursuant to the statute governing the establishment of county law libraries for the purpose of facilitating and enhancing functions of the district court of the county. Approved by full House 3/24/2015.
Kansas SB 183 Amends the statute governing the collection of restitution or debts owed to courts to add court costs, fines, fees, or other charges arising from failure to comply with a traffic citation within 30 days from the mailing of the notice to the definition of "debts owed to courts." Approved by House Judiciary Committee 3/23/2015.
Maryland HB 54 Creates surcharges on various court filings for Circuit Court Real Property Records Improvement Fund. Approved by full House 3/23/2015.
Michigan SB 56 Links judicial salaries to raises/increases given to state employees. Approved by full Senate 3/26/2015.
Montana HB 461 Allows justice court judges to receive additional compensation for longevity in addition to their base salary. Approved by full House 3/24/2015.
Montana SB 235 Provides governor may not alter judicial branch budget proposals but must direct them to legislature unchanged. Approved by House State Administration Committee 3/24/2015.
Selection: Newly Introduced
NONE
Selection: Floor and Committee Activity
Tennessee HB 142 Establishes legislative procedure for the appointment, confirmation and retention of appellate court judges. Approved by House Finance Ways & Means Committee 3/24/2015.
Structure Changes: Newly Introduced
Nevada AB 435 Creates 11th Judicial District. In Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity
Arizona HB 2088 Provides presiding judge of the superior court in each county may establish a homeless court, veterans court and mental health court to adjudicate cases filed in the superior court in the county. Approved by Senate Rules Committee 3/25/2015.
Maryland SB 188 Establishes the Task Force to Study the Establishment of Health Courts to study the adequacy and cost of State laws and policies relating to the litigation of medical malpractice cases and make recommendations regarding the establishment of health courts to hear medical malpractice cases and the feasibility of assigning a medical malpractice case to a single judge throughout the litigation process. Rejected by Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee 3/23/2015.
Montana HB 430 Creates judicial redistricting commission to recommend changes to district lines for 2017 legislature. Approved by full House 3/24/2015.
South Carolina SB 426 Creates mental health court program under control of prosecutors. Judges of courts to be chosen by chief justice. Approved by full Senate 3/26/2015.
Tennessee HB 144 ORIGINAL: Establishes advisory task forces to study and report recommendations on electronic filing in state courts and the appointment of counsel for indigent defendants. AMENDED: Creates Advisory Task Force to Review the Composition of Tennessee’s Current Judicial Districts and Joint Legislative Committee on Judicial Redistricting Approved as amended by House Civil Justice Committee 3/24/2015.
Tennessee HB 854 Authorizes creation of veterans courts in state. Approved by House Civil Justice Subcommittee 3/25/2015.
Other: Newly Introduced
Kansas SB 297 Specifies grounds for impeachment of Kansas Supreme Court to include "attempting to subvert fundamental laws and introduce arbitrary power, attempting to usurp the power of the legislative or executive branch of government, exhibiting wanton or reckless judicial conduct." In Senate Judiciary Committee.
New York SB 4477 Enacts the "public officer protection act" to impose criminal penalties for the service, distribution or filing of fraudulent documents which appear to be judicial documents. In Senate Finance Committee.
North Carolina SB 485 Directs North Carolina Courts Commission study requiring cities and counties to remove personal information from records available on internet web sites maintained by counties and cities when requested by certain law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and judicial officers. In Senate Rules Committee.
North Carolina SB 516 Requires cities and counties to remove personal information from records available on internet web sites maintained by counties and cities when requested by certain law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, and judicial officers. In Senate Judiciary II Committee.
Other: Floor and Committee Activity
Arizona HB 2089 Makes attacks on judges for their duties aggravated assault. Approved by full Senate 3/24/2015. Transmitted to Governor for approval 3/25/2015.
Arizona SB 1073 Allows former judges to request that certain records containing personal information be restricted from public access. Approved by full House 3/24/2015. Transmitted to Governor for approval 3/26/2015.
Arkansas HB 1456 Provides for mandatory suspension of a judge indicted or charged with a felony (currently optional suspension). Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 3/24/2015. Approved by full Senate 3/26/2015. Transmitted to Governor for approval 3/27/2015.
Arkansas HB 1626 Allows elected officials to carry guns into courthouse that contains person's primary place of employment. Approved by full Senate 3/27/2015.
Arkansas HB 1628 Provides deputy district court clerk employed by a city or county is governed by the employee handbook and policies of the city or county. Provides for where clerk is employed by multiple counties. Approved by full Senate 3/16/15. To Governor for approval.
Arkansas HB 1855 Provides a "certified facility dog" may be allowed into to stay with and assist child witnesses in court, subject to Supreme Court rule. Approved by full Senate 3/24/2015. House concurred 3/27/2015. Transmitted to Governor for approval 3/27/2015.
Arkansas SB 159 Allows county employees and elected officials to carry guns into courthouses if they are employed in courthouse. Approved by full Senate 3/24/15.
Connecticut HB 5860 Makes Probate Court employees state employees for purposes of collective bargaining. Tabled in committee 3/26/2015.
Florida SB 2506 Establishes the headquarters of the Supreme Court. Authorizes a Supreme Court Justice to designate a district court of appeal courthouse, a county courthouse, or any other facility in his or her county of residence as his or her official headquarters. Provides for a justice to receive subsistence and transportation reimbursement relating to travel to the headquarters of the Supreme Court under certain circumstances. Approved by Senate Appropriations Committee 3/25/15.
Georgia HB 207 Removes requirement that judges & jurors who are related to party within six degrees of consanguinity or affinity recuse or be disqualified. Reduces degrees down to three degrees. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 3/25/2015.
Georgia SB 135 Provides Clerk of Superior Court is sole custodian of all records clerk is required to file and retain. Provides Clerk alone to respond to open records requests for documents in Clerk's office. Allows Clerk to contract out archiving and storage of electronic records. Provides any contracting entity who releases information subject a felony conviction. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 3/25/2015. Approved by full House 3/27/2015.
Georgia SR 460 Creates Senate Minor Traffic Offense Study Committee. Approved by Senate Committee on Public Safety 3/26/2015.
Georgia SR 573 Creates the Senate Court of Appeals Workload Study Committee. Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee 3/26/15.
Hawaii HCR 155 Requests the Judicial Council convene committee to review Penal Code. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 3/24/2015.
Hawaii HCR 217 Requests the judiciary to convene a task force to examine establishing Hawaiian language resources within the judiciary. Approved by House Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs Committee 3/25/2015.
Hawaii HR 152 Requests the judiciary to convene a task force to examine establishing Hawaiian language resources within the judiciary. Approved by House Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs Committee 3/25/2015.
Hawaii HR 93 Requests the Judicial Council convene committee to review Penal Code. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 3/24/2015.
Hawaii SCR 18 Requests judiciary create working group to examine enhanced sentencing. Approved by full Senate 3/25/2015.
Illinois HB 3620 Provides all parties and witnesses must be provided foreign language interpreter in all court proceedings as needed. Approved by House Judiciary - Civil Committee 3/25/2015.
Kansas SB 12 Before: Increases penalties for assaults on attorneys, judges and court services officers in the performance of their duties. Substitute: Changes procedures for sentencing services members of the United States Armed Forces. House Committee on Veterans, Military, & Homeland Security recommend substitute be passed 3/23/2015.
New Jersey AB 2481 Creates penalties for filing of false liens/documents against judges, clerks, and other officials. Allows clerks to decline to accept such documents. Approved by full House 3/26/2015.
North Dakota HB 1166 Removes limitation on placement of District Judges' chambers. Signed by Governor, became law 3/26/2015.
North Dakota SB 2161 Creates interdisciplinary committee on problem-solving courts. Approved by House Judiciary Committee 3/24/2015.
Tennessee SB 749 Expands the number of legislative committees to receive reports from the administrative director of the courts following the appointment of additional senior justices or judges. Approved by Senate State and Local Government Committee 3/26/2015.
Texas HB 2241 Allows county employees and officers to carry guns into courthouses. Approved by House Local and Consent Committee 3/26/2015.
Texas SB 306 Details information State Commission on Judicial Conduct must release every year must include the number of complaints received by the commission, the number of complaints dismissed without commission action and the reasons (facts alleged did not constitute judicial misconduct, facts alleged did not constitute judicial misconduct or disability, allegation determined unfounded or frivolous). Requires disclosure of number of each type of judicial misconduct or disability that resulted in sanction or censure of a judge. Approved by full Senate 3/23/2015.