Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced
NONE
Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity
Texas HB 45 Requires the Supreme Court of Texas to adopt rules of evidence and procedure to implement limitations on the granting of comity to a foreign judgment or an arbitration award involving a marriage relationship or a parent-child relationship under the Family Code to protect against violations of constitutional rights and public policy and to set out requirements for such rules. Defines "foreign judgment," among other terms, as a judgment of a court, tribunal, or administrative adjudicator of a jurisdiction outside of the states and territories of the United States. Approved by full Senate 5/22/17. To Governor for approval.
Texas SJR 6 (Constitutional Amendment) AS AMENDED: Authorizes the legislature to require a court to provide notice to the attorney general of a challenge to the constitutionality of a state statute. Authorizes the legislature to prescribe a waiting period before the court may enter a judgment holding the statute unconstitutional. Approved by full House 5/23/17. To appear on November 2017 ballot.
Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced
NONE
Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
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
Texas HB 4104 Requires county commissioners in county budget set number of court personnel and maximum compensation. Approved by full Senate 5/24/17. To Governor for approval.
Michigan HB 4613 Creates trial court funding commission to examine methods by which the courts impose and allocate fees and costs and other issues related to court funding. Approved by House Appropriations Committee 5/24/17.
Selection: Newly Introduced
NONE
Selection: Floor and Committee Activity
Texas HB 25 HOUSE: Ends straight-party voting for all races, including judicial offices. Provides that the secretary of state shall inform county election administrators and the county chair of each political party of the elimination of straight ticket voting. Further provides that the secretary of state shall adopt rules and procedures to carry out the elimination that does not burden county election administrators and voters. SENATE: Same, makes operative in 2020 rather than 2017. Full House concurred with Senate amendments 5/22/17. To Governor for approval.
Structure Changes: Newly Introduced
NONE
Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity
Louisiana HB 94 Authorizes all district courts to establish reentry courts. Approved by full Senate 5/23/17.
Texas HB 3391 Creates specialty court for certain public safety employees who commit a criminal offense. Approved by Senate State Affairs Committee 5/19/17.
Texas SB 1893 Divides state's 9 administrative judicial regions into 11 regions. Approved by full House 5/22/17.
Other: Newly Introduced
NONE
Other: Floor and Committee Activity
Illinois SB 1647 ORIGINAL: Provides that "judicial officer" includes retired justices and judges for purposes of the Judicial Privacy Act. AMENDED: Same, but provides that "judicial officer" includes actively employed and former or deceased justices and judges, rather than actively employed and retired justices and judges. Approved by full House 5/19/17. To Governor for approval.
Louisiana HB 162 AS AMENDED: Prohibits the filing of a false lien against judges, state officers, state employees, or declared candidates for state office. Approved by full Senate 5/23/17.
Pennsylvania HB 149 Makes it a crime to make use of a device to record video, audio, or take photographs in a courtroom or hearing room, or in the entrances of these facilities, without the permission of the presiding officer, or as permitted by the rules of court. Approved by House Appropriations Committee 5/23/17.
Texas HB 214 Requires the Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, if appropriated funds or donations are available in the amount necessary to cover the cost, to make a video recording or other electronic visual and audio recording of each oral argument and public meeting of the court and to post the recording on the court's website. Full House concurred with Senate amendments 5/25/17. To Governor for approval.
Texas HB 431 Modifies when a temporary justice of the peace may be called into service. Changes the prescribed period of the temporary justice's service from the duration of the disability to the duration of the justice's absence from the bench. Approved by full Senate 5/19/17. To Governor for approval.
Texas SB 42 ORIGINAL: Creates judicial security division within Administrative Office of the Courts. Requires creation of local court security committees. Requires certification of court security officers. Removes personal information regarding state and federal judges from various public records. Requires creation of a model court security curriculum. AMENDED: Same, but requires certain filing fee revenue to be deposited into the judicial and court personnel training fund. Senate concurred with House amendment 5/23/17. To Governor for approval.
Texas SB 43 Makes modifications to Judicial Branch Certification Commission. Approved by full House 5/24/17. To Governor for approval.
Texas SB 510 Adds the employees of state judges to the list of persons allowed to remove their residence address from tax appraisal rolls. Approved by full House 5/19/17. To Governor for approval.
Texas SB 1329 ORIGINAL: Specifies where judges must file their oaths. AMENDED: Provides creation of new courts and amends certain courts’ jurisdiction; revises certain authority given to associate judges in suits relating to parent-child relationships; revise laws dealing with bailiffs in certain counties; requires the filing of certain judicial oaths with the secretary of state; and increase the fee that may be charged for the issuance of an attorney's license with a seal. Full Senate nonconcurred with House amendments 5/25/17. Conference Committee requested.
Texas SB 1763 ORIGINAL: Provides State Commission on Judicial Conduct must post online access to information on frivolous complaint's status. Requires Commission create sanction guidelines. AMENDED: Same, but provides that the commission shall establish a time frame outlining when the Commission should take action on a complaint. Approved by House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee 5/18/17.
Texas SB 1911 Requires posting notice of self-help resources on the Internet website of a state court and in the office of the court clerk. Approved by full House 5/23/17.