Amend CSSB 2878 (house committee report) as follows:

(1)  On page 3, line 8, strike "January 1, 2027" and substitute "September 1, 2026".

(2)  On page 3, lines 14 and 15, strike "January 1, 2027" and substitute "September 1, 2026".

(3)  On page 4, line 16, strike "January 1, 2027" and substitute "September 1, 2026".

(4)  On page 4, lines 21 and 22, strike "January 1, 2027" and substitute "September 1, 2026".

(5)  On page 6, line 20, strike " January 1, 2029" and substitute "September 1, 2028".

(6)  On page 7, strike lines 1 through 4 and substitute "District is created on September 1, 2028.".

(7)  On page 9, strike lines 14 and 15 and substitute the following:

SECTION 2.01.  Sections 22.004(b) and (h-1), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b)  The supreme court from time to time may promulgate a specific rule or rules of civil procedure, or an amendment or amendments to a specific rule or rules, to be effective at the time the supreme court deems expedient in the interest of a proper administration of justice.  The rules and amendments to rules remain in effect unless and until disapproved by the legislature.  The clerk of the supreme court shall file with the secretary of state the rules or amendments to rules promulgated by the supreme court under this subsection and shall provide [mail] a copy of those rules or amendments to rules to each registered member of the State Bar of Texas not later than the 60th day before the date on which they become effective.  On receiving a written request from a member of the legislature, the secretary of state shall provide the member with electronic notifications when the supreme court has promulgated rules or amendments to rules under this section.

(8)  On page 16, line 7, strike " January 1, 2027" and substitute "September 1, 2026".

(9)  On page 16, line 14, strike "January 1, 2027" and substitute "September 1, 2026".

(10)  Strike page 20, line 27, through page 21, line 2, and substitute the following:

SECTION 3.01.  Sections 25.0022(d), (h), (k), (o), (t), (u), and (w), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(11)  On page 23, strike line 7 and substitute "(k) The daily".

(12)  On page 23, strike lines 16 though 25.

(13)  On page 29, strike lines 21 and 22 and substitute the following:

SECTION 3.07.  Section 74.061, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsections (h), (i), and (k) and adding Subsection (k-1) to read as follows:

(14)  On page 30, between lines 8 and 9, insert the following:

(k)  Except as provided by Subsection (k-1) and notwithstanding [Notwithstanding] any other provision of law, a former, retired, or active judge is not entitled to compensation paid by the state when the judge sits as an assigned judge for a statutory county court.

(15)  On page 30, between lines 8 and 9, add the following appropriately numbered SECTION to Article 3 of the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of that article accordingly:

SECTION 3.____.  This article takes effect immediately if this Act receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this article takes effect September 1, 2025.

(16)  On page 56, line 6, strike "secretary of state" and substitute "district clerk".

(17)  On page 57, line 6, strike "voter registrar" and substitute "district clerk".

(18)  On page 60, strike lines 13 and 14 and substitute the following:

SECTION 7.01.  The heading to Section 22.110, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 22.110.  JUDICIAL INSTRUCTION RELATED TO FAMILY VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS, AND CHILD AND ELDER ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

SECTION 7.02.  Section 22.110, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(a)  The court of criminal appeals shall assure that judicial training related to the problems of family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, [and] child abuse and neglect, and elder abuse and neglect is provided.

(b)  The court of criminal appeals shall adopt the rules necessary to accomplish the purposes of this section. The rules must require:

(1)  each district judge, judge of a statutory county court, associate judge appointed under Chapter 54A of this code or Chapter 201, Family Code, master, referee, and magistrate within the judge's first term of office or the judicial officer's first four years of service to complete and provide certification of completion of 12 hours of training that include at least:

(A)  four hours dedicated to issues related to trafficking of persons, [and] child abuse and neglect, and elder abuse and neglect that cover at least two of the topics described in Subsections (d)(8) through (12) and (d)(14) [(d)(8)-(12)];

(B)  six hours dedicated to the training described by Subsections (d)(5), (6), and (7); and

(C)  one hour dedicated to the training described by Subsection (d)(13);

(2)  each judge and judicial officer during each additional term in office or four years of service to complete and provide certification of completion of an additional five hours of training that include at least:

(A)  two hours dedicated to the training described by Subsections (d)(11) and (12); and

(B)  one hour dedicated to the training described by Subsection (d)(13); and

(3)  each judge of a court with primary responsibility for family law or family violence matters to complete and provide certification of completion of an additional hour of training described by Subsection (d)(13) every two years.

(19)  On page 60, between lines 20 and 21, insert the following:

(d)  The instruction must include information about:

(1)  statutory and case law relating to videotaping a child's testimony and relating to competency of children to testify;

(2)  methods for eliminating the trauma to the child caused by the court process;

(3)  case law, statutory law, and procedural rules relating to family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, and child abuse and neglect;

(4)  methods for providing protection for victims of family violence, sexual assault, trafficking of persons, and child abuse and neglect;

(5)  available community and state resources for counseling and other aid to victims and to offenders;

(6)  gender bias in the judicial process;

(7)  dynamics and effects of being a victim of sexual assault, trafficking of persons, or child abuse and neglect;

(8)  dynamics of sexual abuse of children, including child abuse accommodation syndrome and grooming;

(9)  impact of substance abuse on an unborn child and on a person's ability to care for a child;

(10)  issues of attachment and bonding between children and caregivers;

(11)  issues of child development that pertain to trafficking of persons and child abuse and neglect;

(12)  medical findings regarding physical abuse, sexual abuse, trafficking of persons, and child abuse and neglect; [and]

(13)  dynamics of family violence; and

(14)  elder abuse and neglect.

(20)  On page 64, line 22, between "office," and "and", insert "employees and commissioners of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct,".

(21)  Strike page 72, line 27, through page 73, line 3, and substitute the following appropriately numbered SECTION in Article 7 of the bill:

SECTION 7.____.  (a) As soon as practicable after September 1, 2025, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals shall adopt the rules necessary to implement Section 22.110, Government Code, as amended by this article.

(b)  Section 22.110, Government Code, as amended by this article, applies to all judges, masters, referees, and magistrates elected, appointed, or holding office on or after September 1, 2025.

(22)  Add the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to Article 7 of the bill and renumber the SECTIONS of that article accordingly:

SECTION 7.____.  Section 253.152(7), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(7)  "Statewide judicial office" means the office of chief justice or justice, supreme court, or presiding judge or judge, court of criminal appeals, or the Court of Appeals for the Fifteenth Court of Appeals District.

SECTION 7.____.  Section 6.4035(e), Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

(e)  The party executing the waiver may [not] sign the waiver using a digitized signature.

SECTION 7.____.  Section 74.024(d), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d)  Any rules adopted under this section remain in effect unless and until disapproved by the legislature.  The clerk of the supreme court shall file with the secretary of state the rules or any amendments to the rules adopted by the supreme court under this section and shall provide [mail] a copy of the rules and any amendments to each registered member of the State Bar not later than the 120th day before the date on which they become effective.  The supreme court shall allow a period of 60 days for review and comment on the rules and any amendments.  The clerk of the supreme court shall report the rules or amendments to the rules to the next regular session of the legislature by providing [mailing] a copy of the rules or amendments to the rules to each elected member of the legislature on or before December 1 immediately preceding the session.

SECTION 7.____.  Section 118.011(a), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a)  A county clerk shall collect the following fees for services rendered to any person:

(1)  Personal Property Records Filing (Sec. 118.012):

(A)  for the first page$ 5.00;

(B)  for each additional page or part of a page on which there are visible marks of any kind$ 4.00;

(2)  Real Property Records Filing (Sec. 118.013):

(A)  for the first page$ 5.00;

(B)  for each additional page or part of a page on which there are visible marks of any kind$ 4.00;

(C)  for all or part of  each 8-1/2" X 14"  attachment  or  rider$ 4.00;

(D)  for each name in excess of five names that has to be indexed in all records in which the document must be indexed$ 0.25;

(3)  Certified Papers (Sec. 118.014):

(A)  for the clerk's certificate$ 5.00;

(B)  printed on paper, plus a fee for each page or part of a page$ 1.00;

(C)  that is a paper document converted to electronic format, for each page or part of a page$1;

(D)  that is an electronic copy of an electronic document:

(i)  for each document up to 10 pages in length$1;

(ii)  for each page or part of a page of a document over 10 pages$0.10;

(4)  Noncertified Papers (Sec. 118.0145):

(A)  printed on paper, for each page or part of a page$ 1.00;

(B)  that is a paper document converted to electronic format, for each page or part of a page$1;

(C)  that is an electronic copy of an electronic document:

(i)  for each document up to 10 pages in length$1;

(ii)  for each page or part of a page of a document over 10 pages$0.10;

(5)  Birth or Death Certificate (Sec. 118.015)same as state registrar;

(6)  Bond Approval (Sec. 118.016)$ 5.00 [3.00];

(7)  Marriage License (Sec. 118.018)$60.00;

(8)  Declaration of Informal Marriage (Sec. 118.019)$25.00;

(9)  Brand Registration (Sec. 118.020)$ 5.00;

(10)  Oath Administration (Sec. 118.021)$ 1.00.

SECTION 7.____.  Section 406.026, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 406.026.  ELECTRONIC NOTARIZATION. In a proceeding filed under Title 1 or 5, Family Code, if a signature is required to be notarized, acknowledged, verified, or made under oath, the requirement may be satisfied if the electronic signature of the person authorized to perform that act, together with all other information required to be included by other applicable law, is attached to or logically associated with the signature required to be notarized, acknowledged, verified, or made under oath.

SECTION 7.____.  Section 6.4035(e), Family Code, and Section 406.026, Government Code, as amended by this article, apply to a waiver of citation executed in a suit for dissolution of a marriage that is pending in a trial court on September 1, 2025, or that is filed on or after that date.

SECTION 7.____.  (a) In this section:

(1)  "Digital court reporting" means the act of making a verbatim record of an oral court proceeding, deposition, or proceeding before a grand jury, referee, or court commissioner for use in litigation in the courts of this state through the use of digital technology, electronic recording equipment, or other recording and transcribing technology.

(2)  "Office" means the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System.

(b)  The office shall conduct a study on digital court reporting, including:

(1)  an evaluation of the current use of digital court reporting in the courts of this state, including the cost, access, accuracy, and effectiveness of digital court reporting;

(2)  an analysis of the use of digital court reporting in other states and jurisdictions; and

(3)  recommendations on any necessary changes to statutes, rules, regulations, or standards regarding the use of digital court reporting in this state. 

(c)  Not later than October 1, 2026, the office shall submit a report on the study conducted under this section to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the legislature.

(d)  This section expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 7.____.  Section 233.014, Election Code, is transferred to Subchapter 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, redesignated as Section 30.023, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, and amended to read as follows:

Sec. 30.023  [233.014].  SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR CONTEST OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION.  (a)  This section applies only to a contest of an election on a proposed constitutional amendment.

(b)  The contestant's petition must be filed and service of citation on the secretary of state must be obtained before the final official canvass is completed.

(c)  The filing of an election contest does not suspend implementation of a constitutional amendment approved by the majority of the votes cast [The declaration of the official result of a contested election may not be made until the contest is finally determined.     The secretary of state shall tabulate the county returns and the governor shall announce the final vote count, as ascertained from the returns, in a written document.     The document announcing the final vote count must state that a contest of the election has been filed and that the declaration of the official result will not be made until the contest is finally determined].

(d)  The trial date may not be earlier than the 45th day after the date of the contested election except [nor later than the 180th day after the date of the contested election.     The trial date may be earlier than the 45th day after the date of the contested election] at the request of the contestant.  The trial court must ensure the judgment of the court is not filed later than the 180th day after the date of the contested election.

(e)  If an amended petition alleging additional grounds of contest is filed, the contest may not be called for trial earlier than the 20th day after the date the amended petition is filed unless the secretary of state agrees to calling the contest for trial at an earlier date.

(f)  The court shall include in its judgment in a contest an order directing the governor to declare the [official result of the election or to declare the] election valid or void, as appropriate, not later than the 10th day after the date the judgment becomes final.

(g)  Any question relating to the validity or outcome of a constitutional amendment election may be raised in an election contest.  A contest is the exclusive method for adjudicating such questions.

(h)  If a contestant files an appeal of the contest, the appellate court must ensure that the action is brought to final disposition not later than the 60th [180th] day after the date the judgment becomes final.

SECTION 7.____.  Section 233.014, Election Code, as redesignated and amended by this Act, applies to a contest of a constitutional amendment election filed on or after September 1, 2025.  A contest of a constitutional amendment election filed before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date that the suit is filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 7.____. Section 233.006(b), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b)  Except as provided by Section 30.023, Civil Practice and Remedies Code [233.014], the contestant must file the petition not later than the later of the 30th day after the date the election records are publicly available under Section 1.012 or the official result of the contested election is determined.

(23)  On page 73, line 9, strike "53.001(a)" and substitute "53.001".

(24)  On page 73, line 13, between "court" and "shall", insert "before that date".

(25)  On page 73, strike lines 24 through 26.

(26)  Add the following appropriately numbered SECTION to Article 9 of the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of that article accordingly:

SECTION 9.____.  Section 82.004, Family Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 82.004.  FORM AND CONTENT OF APPLICATION.  (a) A person filing an application under this chapter shall use the protective order application form created by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System under Section 72.039, Government Code, that is available on the office's Internet website, and shall include in the application:

(1)  the name [and county of residence] of each applicant;

(2)  the county of residence of each applicant, unless the applicant requests confidentiality pursuant to Section 82.011 or 85.007;

(3)  the name and county of residence of each individual alleged to have committed family violence;

(4) [(3)]  the relationships between the applicants and the individual alleged to have committed family violence;

(5) [(4)]  a request for one or more protective orders; [and]

(6) [(5)]  whether an applicant is receiving services from the Title IV-D agency in connection with a child support case and, if known, the agency case number for each open case; and

(7)  any additional information known by the applicant that may assist in finding the respondent for the purposes of services.

(27)  On page 97, line 20, between "EMPLOYEES," and "AND", insert "INCLUDING MUNICIPAL COURT PERSONNEL,".

(28)  On page 98, line 8, between "clerk" and the underlined semicolon, insert "or municipal court personnel".

(29)  On page 98, line 11, between the underlined comma and "law", insert "juvenile case manager,".

(30)  On page 98, line 14, strike "[,] or" and substitute "[, or]".

(31)  On page 98, line 15, between "(8)" and "a", insert the following:

(32)  On page 98, line 16, strike "(1)-(7)" and substitute "(1)-(8)".

(33)  Strike page 98, line 20 through page 100, line 10.

(34)  On page 100, between lines 21 and 22, insert the following appropriately numbered subdivision and renumber subsequent subdivisions of added Section 58.010, Government Code, accordingly:

(35)  On page 106, line 21, between the underlined comma and "law", insert "juvenile case manager,".

(36)  On page 106, line 23, strike "or".

(37)  On page 106, line 27, between "552.1175" and the period, insert the following:

(38)  On page 110, line 3, between the underlined comma and "law", insert "juvenile case manager,".

(39)  On page 110, line 3, strike "and".

(40)  On page 110, line 6, between "office" and the period, insert the following:

(41)  On page 110, line 19, between the underlined comma and "law", insert "juvenile case manager,".

(42)  On page 117, line 8, between the underlined comma and "law", insert "juvenile case manager,".

(43)  On page 117, line 8, strike "and".

(44)  On page 117, line 11, between "office" and the period, insert the following:

(45)  On page 119, line 2, between the underlined comma and "law", insert "juvenile case manager,".

(46)  On page 119, line 8, between "office" and the period, insert ", or as an employee or commissioner of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct".

(47)  On page 119, line 16, between the underlined comma and "law", insert "juvenile case manager,".

(48)  On page 119, line 20, between "office," and "to", insert "or as an employee or commissioner of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct,".

(49)  On page 119, line 21, strike "or employee" and substitute "employee, or commissioner".

(50)  On page 119, line 22, strike "or employee" and substitute "employee, or commissioner".

(51)  On page 119, line 26, strike "or employee" and substitute "employee, or commissioner".

(52)  Add the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to Article 13 of the bill and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of that article accordingly:

SECTION 13.____.  Section 81.113(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), the state bar shall credit an attorney licensed in this state with meeting the minimum continuing legal education requirements of the state bar for a reporting year if during the reporting year the attorney is:

(1)  employed full-time as an attorney by:

(A) [(1)]  the senate;

(B) [(2)]  the house of representatives;

(C) [(3)]  a committee, division, department, or office of the senate or house;

(D) [(4)]  the Texas Legislative Council;

(E) [(5)]  the Legislative Budget Board;

(F) [(6)]  the Legislative Reference Library;

(G) [(7)]  the office of the state auditor; or

(H) [(8)]  the Sunset Advisory Commission; or

(2)  serving as a state official appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate.

SECTION 13.____.  Section 81.113, Government Code, as amended by this article, applies only to the minimum requirements for a continuing legal education compliance year that ends on or after September 1, 2025. The minimum requirements for continuing legal education for a compliance year that ends before September 1, 2025, are covered by the law and rules in effect when the compliance year ended, and that law and those rules are continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 13.____.  Articles 43.09(a) and (k), Code of Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows:

(a)  When a defendant is convicted of a misdemeanor and the defendant's punishment is assessed at a pecuniary fine or is confined in a jail after conviction of a felony for which a fine is imposed, if the defendant is unable to pay the fine and costs adjudged against the defendant, the defendant may for such time as will satisfy the judgment be put to work in the county jail industries program, in the workhouse, or on the county farm, or public improvements and maintenance projects of the county or a political subdivision located in whole or in part in the county, as provided in Article 43.10; or if there is no such county jail industries program, workhouse, farm, or improvements and maintenance projects, the defendant shall be confined in jail for a sufficient length of time to discharge the full amount of fine and costs adjudged against the defendant; rating such confinement at $150 [$100] for each day and rating such labor at $150 [$100] for each day; provided, however, that the defendant may pay the pecuniary fine assessed against the defendant at any time while the defendant is serving at work in the county jail industries program, in the workhouse, or on the county farm, or on the public improvements and maintenance projects of the county or a political subdivision located in whole or in part in the county, or while the defendant is serving the defendant's jail sentence, and in such instances the defendant is entitled to the credit earned under this subsection during the time that the defendant has served and the defendant shall only be required to pay the balance of the pecuniary fine assessed against the defendant. A defendant who performs labor under this article during a day in which the defendant is confined is entitled to both the credit for confinement and the credit for labor provided by this article.

(k)  A defendant is considered to have discharged $150 [$100] of fines or costs for each eight hours of community service performed under Subsection (f) of this article.

SECTION 13.____.  Article 45A.251(e), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(e)  In addition to credit under Subsection (d), in imposing a fine and costs in a case involving a misdemeanor punishable by fine only, the justice or judge shall credit the defendant for any period the defendant was confined in jail or prison while awaiting trial or serving a sentence for another offense if that confinement occurred after the commission of the misdemeanor.  The credit under this subsection shall be applied to the amount of the fine and costs at the rate of not less than $150 for each day of confinement.

SECTION 13.____.  Article 45A.254(e), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(e)  A defendant is considered to have discharged not less than $150 [$100] of fines or costs for each eight hours of community service performed under this article.

SECTION 13.____.  Article 45A.459(i), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(i)  A defendant is considered to have discharged not less than $150 [$100] of fines or costs for each eight hours of community service performed under this article.

SECTION 13.____.  Article 45A.460(i), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(i)  A defendant is considered to have discharged not less than $150 [$100] of fines or costs for each eight hours of community service performed under this article.

SECTION 13.____.  Article 43.09(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by this article, applies to a defendant who is confined or performs labor to discharge fines or costs on or after September 1, 2025, regardless of whether the offense for which the fines or costs were imposed occurred before, on, or after September 1, 2025.

SECTION 13.____.  The changes in law made by this article to Articles 43.09(k), 45A.254(e), 45A.459(i), and 45A.460(i), Code of Criminal Procedure, apply to a defendant who performs community service to discharge fines or costs on or after September 1, 2025, regardless of whether the offense for which the fines or costs were imposed occurred before, on, or after September 1, 2025.

SECTION 13.____.  Article 45A.251(e), Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by this article, applies to a defendant who is sentenced for an offense on or after September 1, 2025, regardless of whether the offense was committed before, on, or after that date.