Jurisdiction: Newly Introduced
Mississippi SB 2199 Increases justice court civil jurisdiction to $5,000. In Senate Judiciary A Committee
Missouri HJR 1 (Constitutional Amendment) Requires the Senate, beginning January 1, 2021, to try all impeachments (currently Supreme Court tries impeachments). Prefiled.
Missouri SB 9 Requires the Senate, beginning January 1, 2021, to try all impeachments (currently Supreme Court tries impeachments). Prefiled.
Missouri SJR 2 (Constitutional Amendment) Requires the Senate, beginning January 1, 2021, to try all impeachments, except for the impeachment of the Governor, which shall be tried by the Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court Prefiled.
New Mexico SB 173 Authorizes municipalities of any size to transfer jurisdiction of municipal courts to a magistrate court with supreme court agreement. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Oregon SB 467 Prohibits courts from applying Sharia law. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Rhode Island SJR 42 (Constitutional Amendment) Requires state legislature fund public education and provides courts have jurisdiction to hear challenges to funding levels. In Senate Education Committee
South Carolina HB 3065 Increases magistrate court jurisdiction to $15,000 In House Judiciary Committee
South Carolina SB 29 Prohibits state courts from enforcing foreign/international law. In Senate Judiciary Committee
South Carolina SB 69 Increases magistrate court jurisdiction to $15,000 In Senate Judiciary Committee
South Carolina SB 98 Increases magistrate court jurisdiction to $15,000 In Senate Judiciary Committee
West Virginia HB 2352 Provides all appeals shall be afforded a full and meaningful review, and an opportunity to be heard, by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, and a written decision on the merits shall be issued, as a matter of right. In House Judiciary Committee
West Virginia SJR 5 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides with respect to impeachment "No court of this state shall have any authority or jurisdiction, by writ or otherwise, to intercede in or interfere with any proceedings of the House of Delegates or the Senate hereunder; nor shall any judgment rendered by the Senate following an impeachment trial be reviewable in any court of this state." In Senate Judiciary Committee
Jurisdiction: Floor and Committee Activity
West Virginia HB 2164 Provides all appeals shall be afforded a full and meaningful review, and an opportunity to be heard, by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, and a written decision on the merits shall be issued, as a matter of right. Approved by full House 1/16/19.
Qualifications and Terms: Newly Introduced
Arkansas HB 1035 Expands roles/cases retired circuit judges may hear. In House Judiciary Committee
Iowa LD 1269 Provides that district judges and district associate judges need only reside within the judicial election district within 90 days of appointment, but that a district associate judge must be a resident of the judicial district in which the vacancy exists at the time of appointment. Draft requested
New York AB 978 Requires that judges in criminal trials are admitted to practice law within the state In Assembly Judiciary Committee
South Carolina HB 3152 Requires all clerks of court have a bachelor's degree or 8 years experience as an employee of a clerk's office. Exempts currently elected clerks. In House Judiciary Committee
South Carolina HB 3260 Requires all clerks of court have a bachelor's degree or 8 years experience as an employee of a clerk's office. Exempts currently elected clerks. In House Judiciary Committee
South Carolina SB 101 Extends the time period for the validity of magistrate examination scores from six months before and six months after the time the appointment is to be made to one year before and two years after the time the appointment is made. In Senate Judiciary.
Texas SJR 25 (Constitutional Amendment) Requires candidates have 10 years (currently 4) as a practicing lawyer or judge to be eligible to serve as a district court judge. Prefiled.
West Virginia SJR 6 (Constitutional Amendment) Reduces term of office for supreme court justices from 12 years down to 8. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Qualifications and Terms: Floor and Committee Activity
North Dakota SB 2178 Provides if a municipality ends its municipal court, judge may continue to serve until last day of the month in which all municipal cases have been transferred to district court or the expiration of the judge's term, whichever occurs first. Approved as amended by full Senate 1/24/19
Rule Making Authority: Newly Introduced
Arizona HCR 2006 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides supreme court's power to make rules relative to all procedural matters subject to legislative changes. In House (no committee)
South Carolina SB 53 Provides Supreme Court's rulemaking over state bar is subject to legislative override. Removes references to mandatory state bar. In Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee
Rule Making Authority: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
Salary and Budget: Newly Introduced
NONE
Arkansas HB 1208 Amends law concerning the authority of the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Judicial Retirement System to award an annual cost of living adjustment under the Arkansas Judicial Retirement System. In House (no committee)
Kansas SB 20 Extends the judicial branch surcharge to fund the costs of non-judicial personnel. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Mississippi HB 299 Creates Historic Courthouse Fund to provide grants to counties for maintenance/restoration of historic courthouses. In House Public Property Committee
Missouri HB 103 Requires the Commissioner of Administration to procure a blanket bond or crime insurance policy to protect the state against loss from the acts or omissions of any state-compensated person within the judiciary Prefiled.
Nebraska LB 300 Adjusts judicial salaries In Senate (no committee)
New Mexico HJR 5 (Constitutional Amendment) Creates public officer salary commission. Provides commission is to set salaries and may make recommendations to legislature as to compensation, perquisite, allowance or reimbursement other than salary In House State Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee
New Mexico SB 197 Creates a “judge pro tempore fund” in the state treasury to be managed by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) through vouchers to compensate appointed judges pro tempore who serve temporarily in district courts. Approved by full Senate 1/24/19
New Mexico SB 198 Allows AOC director to apply and receive public and private funds, including federal funds, for AOC operations. Approved by full Senate 1/24/19
Oklahoma HB 1091 Creates the Court Clerk's Records Management and Preservation Fund Prefiled.
Oklahoma HB 1416 Creates the Oklahoma Diversionary Court Funding Program. Prefiled.
Oregon HB 2238 Ties judicial salaries to federal judicial salaries. Provides Chief Justice to make at least 90 percent of annual salary of a U.S. District Court judge. In House Judiciary Committee
Oregon HB 2241 Authorizes Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to impose fees on public bodies for use of certain electronic court services In House Judiciary Committee
Oregon HB 2244 Establishes CourtCare Fund and appropriates moneys in fund to Department of Education for distribution to counties to operate CourtCare programs. In House Judiciary Committee
Oregon HB 2605 Authorizes State Treasurer to issue Article XI-Q general obligation bonds to finance construction and improvement of courthouses In Joint Committee On Ways and Means
South Carolina HB 3161 Links judicial salaries to those of federal judges with Chief Justice to make the same as the salary of a United States district court judge. In Senate Ways and Means Committee
South Carolina SB 42 Sets judicial salaries. Establishes 2% raises each year in which compensation is increased for all full-time state-appropriated employees. In Senate Finance Committee
South Carolina SB 43 Links judicial salaries to those of federal judges with Chief Justice to make the same as the salary of a United States district court judge. In Senate Finance Committee
South Carolina SB 73 Links judicial salaries to those of federal judges with Chief Justice to make the same as the salary of a United States district court judge. In Senate Finance Committee
Texas HB 847 Alters longevity pay for certain judges and justices. Prefiled.
Virginia SB 1384 Increases by five percent the retirement allowance for judges for service earned on and after their fifty-fifth birthday. In Senate Finance Committee.
West Virginia HB 2197 Increases the salaries of circuit court judges, family court judges, and magistrates In House Judiciary Committee
West Virginia HB 2418 Includes family court judges in the Judges’ Retirement System. In House Pensions and Retirement Committee
West Virginia SB 96 Allows retired judicial officer to avoid limit on temporary employment payments under certain circumstances. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Wyoming SF 102 Amends requirements for the management of bank accounts for money received by the circuit court. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Salary and Budget: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
Selection: Newly Introduced
NONE
Alaska SJR 3 (Constitutional Amendment) Requires members of Judicial Council selected by state bar be confirmed by Senate. In Senate Judiciary.
Arizona HB 2043 Provides municipal judges to be subject to retention elections. Prefiled.
Kansas HB 2020 Changes the supreme court clerk's information requirements for licensed attorneys and changing procedures related to the supreme court nominating commission and the judicial district nominating commissions. In House Judiciary Committee
Kentucky HB 123 Requires judges be elected in partisan races. In House Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee
Missouri HJR 2 (Constitutional Amendment) Ends merit/commission selection in the state. Provides judges for courts where merit/commission selection is in place to be appointed by governor and confirmed by 2/3rds vote of Senate. Prefiled.
Missouri SJR 3 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides that a nonpartisan judicial commission shall submit to the Governor a list of all qualified nominees, rather than a list of three nominees, to fill a judicial vacancy in a court under the nonpartisan court plan Prefiled.
Montana HB 157 Provides a judge must recuse if the aggregate total contributed by a party, party employees, or party attorney to the judge's last campaign exceeds contribution limits set for individuals. Provides that contributions made to PAC or third party groups that support the judicial candidate qualify as contributions for purposes of the recusal statute. In House State Administration Committee.
Montana LD 634 Requires candidates for contested judicial officers file applications similar if not identical to those used for judicial nomination commission appointments. Provides state court administrator's office to post applications online. Draft requested.
Nebraska LB 144 Allows for voter approval of nonpartisan nomination and partisan election of county officers, including clerks of court. In Senate Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Nebraska LB 211 Provides for nonpartisan nomination and partisan election of county officers, including clerks of court. In Senate Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Nebraska LB 339 Change provisions relating to judicial nominating commissions In Senate Judiciary Committee
Nebraska LB 72 Provides for nonpartisan nomination and partisan election of county officers, including clerks of court. In Senate Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
Oklahoma SJR 12 (Constitutional Amendment) Requires appellate judges receive 60% yes in their retention elections to remain in office. Prefiled.
South Carolina HB 3032 Requires elections of clerks of court be nonpartisan. In House Judiciary Committee
South Carolina HB 3034 Requires nonpartisan election of probate judges. In House Judiciary Committee
South Carolina HB 3069 Revises membership and terms of Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Changes processes of Commission and requires they release all qualified names (not just 3). In House Judiciary Committee
South Carolina HB 3070 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides judges of higher courts to be selected by governor and confirmed by General Assembly. In House Judiciary Committee
South Carolina SB 170 Revises membership and terms of Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Changes processes of Commission and requires they release all qualified names (not just 3). In Senate Judiciary.
South Carolina SB 270 Provides immediate family member of sitting legislator may not be chosen by legislature to fill judicial seat. In Senate Judiciary.
South Carolina SB 95 Provides pledges for judicial candidates from legislators may not be obtained until 12 days after nominations list released. In Senate Judiciary Committee
South Carolina SJR 285 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides judges of higher courts to be selected by governor and confirmed by Senate. In Senate Judiciary.
West Virginia SB 108 Provides candidate elected to a judicial office must receive a majority of the votes cast for that office during the nonpartisan primary or the top two vote getters move on to a nonpartisan general election. In Senate Judiciary Committee
West Virginia SJR 8 (Constitutional Amendment) Provides is a governor fills an interim vacancy on the supreme court, the appointment must be confirmed by senate. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Selection: Floor and Committee Activity
West Virginia HB 2008 AS AMENDED: Provides that when no candidate receives at least 40% of votes cast in the nonpartisan election in a division for Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals a runoff election is to be held concurrent with the general election. Approved as amended by House Judiciary Committee 1/17/19.
Structure Changes: Newly Introduced
NONE
Indiana HB 1479 Permits a city, town, or county to establish an ordinance violation court to adjudicate ordinance or code violations committed within the unit. In House Courts and Criminal Code Committee
Mississippi HB 334 Authorizes mental health courts throughout the state. In House Public Health and Human Services Committee
Mississippi HB 5 Allows creation of domestic abuse court programs throughout state. In House Judiciary B Committee
Missouri HB 547 Requires each judicial circuit to establish a veterans' treatment court In House Judiciary Committee
New York SB 1360 Creates an elder court pilot program to study the effectiveness of senior-specific judicial programming especially involving elder abuse and domestic violence. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Oklahoma HB 1120 Authorizes creation of limited municipal criminal court of record Prefiled.
South Carolina SB 50 Directs creation of drug court programs in each circuit under the control of the prosecutor. In Senate Judiciary Committee
South Carolina SB 84 Authorizes creation of recovery courts within all family courts. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Virginia HJR 687 Requests that the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court study options and models for a tax court system in the Commonwealth, including the tax court systems of other states, as well as options and models provided by research organizations. Prefiled.
Washington HB 1081 Reduces state supreme court from 9 members down to 5. Prefiled.
Washington HJR 4201 (Constitutional Amendment) Establishes state supreme court as made up of 5 members. Prefiled.
West Virginia HB 2091 Increases the minimum number of magisterial districts in a county from 3 to 4. Approved by House Political Subdivisions 1/9/19.
West Virginia HB 2366 Creates Intermediate Court of Appeals. Provides judges of court are not to be elected but appointed and reappointed by governor and confirmed by senate. In House Judiciary Committee
West Virginia HB 2389 Adopts Model Veterans Treatment Court Act In House Veterans' Affairs and Homeland Security Committee
West Virginia SB 2 Creates Intermediate Court of Appeals. Provides judges of court are not to be elected but appointed and reappointed by governor and confirmed by senate. In Senate Judiciary Committee
West Virginia SB 266 Creates Intermediate Court of Appeals. Provides judges of court are not to be elected but appointed and reappointed by governor and confirmed by senate. In Senate Judiciary Committee
West Virginia SB 40 Establishes Mental Health and Military Service Member Court program In Senate Judiciary Committee
Wyoming SF 104 Creates chancery court to handle disputes involving commercial, business, trust and similar issues. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Structure Changes: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE
Other: Newly Introduced
Arizona SB 1064 Provides Each court may use certified court security officers to ensure the safe transaction of the business of the court. Provides supreme court shall certify court security officers. In Senate Government Committee.
Colorado SB 36 Requires the state court administrator to administer a court reminder program (program) to remind criminal defendants to appear at their scheduled hearings in district courts, county courts, and municipal courts that use the judicial department's case management system. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Connecticut HB 5529 Establishes a task force to study and then report on improvements that can be made to the state's family court system. In Joint Committee on Judiciary
Florida SB 328 Authorizes certain Supreme Court justices to have an appropriate facility in their district of residence designated as their official headquarters. Revises the appellate jurisdiction of the circuit courts. Requires sheriffs to coordinate with the board of county commissioners and the chief judge of the circuit on a comprehensive plan for the provision of security for trial court facilities. In Senate (no committee)
Hawaii SB 57 Placeholder In Senate Judiciary Committee
Illinois HB 191 Provides that as part of his or her duty to maintain the security of a courthouse, a sheriff shall maintain a walk-through metal detector at each point of entry into the courthouse. Provides that a courthouse shall ensure that all members of the public, other than employees of the county or individuals who display proper credentials, who enter the courthouse at a point of entry are subjected to screening by a walk-through metal detector. In House Rules Committee
Illinois HB 248 Permits certain judicial officers, some with written consent required, to carry a concealed firearm to any building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of government, any building designated for matters before a circuit court, appellate court, or the Supreme Court, or any building or portion of a building under the control of the Supreme Court and any building or portion of a building under the control of a unit of local government. In House Rules Committee
Indiana HB 1235 Provides that a person commits battery on a public safety official if the offense is committed due to the person's status or former status as a public safety official. (Under current law, a person commits the offense only if the official is acting in the person's official duty.) Exempts a person who retires from judicial office after at least 20 years of service or because of a disability from the payment of the fee for a license to carry a handgun. Permits a former judicial officer to possess and use a handgun in the same locations as a judicial officer, and requires the supreme court to annually issue an identification card to a former judicial officer. In House Courts and Criminal Code Committee
Indiana HB 1299 Provides that the office of judicial administration (administration) shall develop and implement a standard protocol to electronically send or receive at least one time each week criminal case information between the administration's court case management system and the Indiana department of veterans' affairs (department) concerning individuals in the: (1) United States Department of Defense data base of individuals whose military service qualifies the individual for veterans benefits; and (2) national guard registries, in collaboration with the national guard; for use by county prosecutors and a veterans' court in helping to address the needs of veterans in the court system. Provides that the administration shall cross-reference the names obtained from the department with the names of individuals in the court case management system. In House Courts and Criminal Code Committee
Indiana SB 184 Requires the chief administrative officer of the office of judicial administration to develop diversity training program. Requires each judicial officer and employee of the judicial branch to complete three hours of diversity training. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Indiana SB 19 Increases the penalty for battery if it is committed against a public safety official or a relative of a public safety official because of the official's status or perceived status as a public safety official, and increases the penalty for criminal recklessness if it is committed against: (1) a public safety official while the official is engaged in the official's official duties; or (2) a public safety official or a relative of a public safety official if the offense is committed because of the official's status or perceived status as a public safety official. In Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee
Iowa LD 1266 Provides a clerk of court may be appointed to serve any number of counties (currently limited to 1-4 counties) Provides that an appointed clerk must be a resident within 90 days of appointment (currently must be resident at time of appointment). Draft requested
Kentucky HB 147 Provides that retired justices and judges shall have the powers of notaries public. In House Judiciary Committee
Minnesota SF 21 Creates task force to examine electronic recording of court proceedings In Senate Judiciary Committee
Mississippi HB 448 Prohibits requirement that individuals have a photo I.D. to enter into municipal courts. In House Judiciary A Committee
Mississippi HB 524 Allows all public employees to carrying firearms in courthouses and other government property. In House Judiciary B Committee
Mississippi HB 63 Prohibits requiring identification for entrance into a court building. In House Judiciary A Committee
New York AB 754 Requires the office of court administration to collect and maintain data on limited English proficient litigants in the state In Assembly Judiciary Committee
North Dakota HB 1145 Allows judicial branch to submit bills directly for introduction to legislature, but only if there is at least 1 legislative member who will sponsor it or a legislative committee asks for it. In House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee
North Dakota HB 1206 Allows retired state and local judges to carry firearms in same manner as active judges, including into courthouses. In House Energy and Natural Resources Committee
North Dakota SB 2066 Re-enacts statute authorizing court facilities improvement advisory committee. Approved by full Senate 1/8/19
Oklahoma HB 1303 Transfers power to appoint county indigent defenders and others from judges in county to county committee. Prefiled.
Oklahoma HB 1304 Makes judges of district courts subject to open records requests Prefiled.
Oklahoma HB 1383 Placeholder Prefiled.
Oregon HB 2258 Directs Office of Governor to conduct study of family treatment courts and to report results to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to human services on or before September 15, 2020 In House Judiciary Committee
Oregon HB 2552 Makes corporations eligible to serve on juries. In House Judiciary Committee
Oregon SB 327 Requires trial judge to inform jury of power to acquit even if guilt of defendant is proven beyond reasonable doubt. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Oregon SB 384 Directs State Court Administrator to study options for deprivatizing collection of court fees and fines. In Senate Judiciary Committee
South Carolina HB 3073 Allows clerks of court to carry weapons throughout the state and into courthouses. In House Judiciary Committee
South Carolina SB 105 Requires certain judicial continuing education programs include animal cruelty. In Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
Texas HB 685 Provides a court clerk is not responsible for the management or removal of a document from a state court document database and is not liable for damages resulting from the release of a document in the database if the clerk in good faith performs the duties as clerk as provided by law and the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Prefiled.
Utah HB 68 Provides that a court commissioner is exempt from certain weapons laws if the court commissioner completes the required training. In House (no committee)
Virginia HB 2239 Allows courthouses to be located on property owned jointly by a county and city. Prefiled.
Virginia SB 1655 Requires the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to develop a statewide evaluation model and conduct ongoing evaluations of the effectiveness and efficiency of all local specialty dockets established in accordance with the Rules of Supreme Court of Virginia and submit a report of these evaluations to the General Assembly by December 1 of each year. In Senate Courts of Justice Committee
West Virginia SB 102 Authorizes certain West Virginia courthouse security officers to carry concealed firearms while off duty with court approval. Grants courthouse security officers arrest powers under certain circumstances. In Senate Judiciary Committee
West Virginia SB 295 Includes court security officers in the definition of persons against whom obstructing an officer is a crime. Adds protection for court security personnel and bailiffs as it relates to the potential to charge individuals for obstruction of such officers. In Senate Judiciary Committee
Other: Floor and Committee Activity
NONE