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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the financial disclosure requirements for judges |
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receiving contributions from parties involved in cases they preside |
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over. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Transparency and |
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Reporting for Unbiased Standards in Trials" (TRUST Act). |
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SECTION 2. Title 5, Chapter 572, subchapter A, Government |
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Code, is amended adding as follows to Section 572.002: |
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(13) "Judge" refers to any judicial officer presiding over |
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cases in the state of Texas. |
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(14) "Contribution" refers to any monetary donation, gift, |
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or in-kind contribution. |
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(15) "Party to a suit" includes any plaintiff, petitioner, |
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defendant, prosecutor, or their legal representatives. |
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(16) "Texas Ethics Commission" refers to the commission |
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established under Chapter 571, Government Code, responsible for |
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enforcing this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 572.062 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 572.062. ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN |
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CONTRIBUTIONS TO JUDGES. |
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(a) A judge shall disclose any contribution received from a |
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party to a suit they are presiding over within five (5) business |
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days of receipt. |
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(b) The disclosure must be include: |
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(1) The judge's name and position. |
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(2) The jurisdiction or geographical territory of the |
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judge. |
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(3) The cause number of the case. |
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(4) The name of the contributor. |
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(5) The contributor's relation to the case. |
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(6) The amount of the contribution, including in-kind |
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contributions. |
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(c) A copy of this disclosure shall be presented to all |
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parties to a suit subject to this section |
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(1) within five (5) business days of receipt or; |
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(2) prior to final hearing of an applicable suit, whichever |
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is sooner. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 572.0621 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 572.0621. POST-CASE DISCLOSURE PERIOD |
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Pursuant to Sec. 572.062, a judge must continue to disclose any |
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contributions from parties involved in a case for a period of Sixty |
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(60) days after the final order of the suit. |
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SECTION 5. If any provision of this Act or its application |
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to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does |
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not affect other provisions or applications of this Act that can be |
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given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to |
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this end, the provisions of this Act are severable. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |