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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to bond requirements for certain judges. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 25.0006(a-1) and (a-4), Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Before beginning the duties of the office, the judge |
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of a statutory county court must execute a bond that: |
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(1) is payable to the treasurer of the county; |
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(2) is in the amount set by the commissioners court of: |
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(A) subject to Paragraph (B), not less than |
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$1,000 nor more than $10,000; or |
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(B) for a judge presiding in the court over |
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guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section 1002.015, Estates |
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Code, or over probate proceedings, as defined by Section 22.029, |
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Estates Code, not less than $500,000[: |
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[(i) $100,000 for a court in a county with a |
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population of 125,000 or less; or |
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[(ii) $250,000 for a court in a county with |
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a population of more than 125,000]; and |
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(3) is conditioned that the judge will: |
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(A) faithfully perform all duties of office; and |
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(B) for a judge presiding in the court over |
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guardianship or probate proceedings, perform the duties required by |
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the Estates Code. |
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(a-4) This section does not apply to: |
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(1) [a judge of a statutory county court who does not |
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preside over guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section |
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1002.015, Estates Code; |
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[(2)] a judge of a statutory probate court who |
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executes a bond, obtains insurance, or self-insures pursuant to |
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Section 25.00231; or |
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(2) [(3)] a judge who presides over a county criminal |
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court. |
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SECTION 2. Section 26.001(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Before beginning the duties of the office, the county |
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judge must execute a bond that: |
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(1) is payable to the treasurer of the county; |
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(2) is in the amount set by the commissioners court of: |
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(A) subject to Paragraph (B), not less than |
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$1,000 nor more than $10,000; or |
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(B) for a county judge presiding in the county |
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court over guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section |
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1002.015, Estates Code, or over probate proceedings, as defined by |
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Section 22.029, Estates Code, not less than $500,000[: |
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[(i) $100,000 for a court in a county with a |
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population of 125,000 or less; or |
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[(ii) $250,000 for a court in a county with |
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a population of more than 125,000]; and |
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(3) is conditioned that the judge will: |
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(A) faithfully perform all duties of office; and |
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(B) for a county judge presiding in the county |
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court over guardianship or probate proceedings, perform the duties |
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required by the Estates Code. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |