Bill Text: TX SB717 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the additional compensation certain counties pay to judges and justices for extrajudicial services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-06 - Filed [SB717 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB717-Introduced.html

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89R4934 AMF-D
By: Sparks S.B. No. 717

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the additional compensation certain counties pay to
judges and justices for extrajudicial services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 25A, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 25A.0115 to read as follows:
Sec. 25A.0115. AUTHORITY FOR ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION. (a)
The commissioners court of a county may pay the judges of the
business court having jurisdiction in the county additional
compensation in an amount not to exceed the limitations provided in
Section 659.012 for extrajudicial services performed by the
business court judges.
(b) The county shall pay the compensation from the county
general fund or other available county funds in:
(1) monthly installments; or
(2) biweekly installments if authorized by the
commissioners court.
(c) The compensation is in addition to the salary paid by
this state and any other compensation authorized by law.
SECTION 2. Section 31.001, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 31.001. AUTHORITY FOR COUNTY PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION.
The commissioners courts in the counties of each of the 15 courts of
appeals districts may pay additional compensation in an amount that
does not exceed the limitations of Section 659.012 to each of the
justices of the courts of appeals[, other than a justice of the
Court of Appeals of the Fifteenth Court of Appeals District,]
residing within the court of appeals district that includes those
counties. The compensation is for all extrajudicial services
performed by the justices.
SECTION 3. Section 659.012(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 659.011 and subject to
Subsections (b) and (b-1):
(1) a judge of a district court or a division of the
business court is entitled to an annual base salary from the state
as set by the General Appropriations Act in an amount equal to at
least $140,000, except that the combined base salary of a district
judge or judge of a division of the business court from all state
and county sources, including compensation for any extrajudicial
services performed on behalf of the county, may not exceed the
amount that is $5,000 less than the maximum combined base salary
from all state and county sources for a justice of a court of
appeals other than a chief justice as determined under this
subsection;
(2) [except as provided by Subdivision (3),] a justice
of a court of appeals other than the chief justice is entitled to an
annual base salary from the state in the amount equal to 110 percent
of the state base salary of a district judge as set by the General
Appropriations Act, except that the combined base salary of a
justice of the court of appeals other than the chief justice from
all state and county sources, including compensation for any
extrajudicial services performed on behalf of the county, may not
exceed the amount that is $13,000 more [$5,000 less] than the base
salary for a justice of the supreme court as determined under this
subsection;
(3) [a justice of the Court of Appeals for the
Fifteenth Court of Appeals District other than the chief justice is
entitled to an annual base salary from the state in the amount equal
to $5,000 less than 120 percent of the state base salary of a
district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act;
[(4)] a justice of the supreme court other than the
chief justice or a judge of the court of criminal appeals other than
the presiding judge is entitled to an annual base salary from the
state in the amount equal to 120 percent of the state base salary of
a district judge as set by the General Appropriations Act; and
(4) [(5)] the chief justice or presiding judge of an
appellate court is entitled to an annual base salary from the state
in the amount equal to $2,500 more than the state base salary
provided for the other justices or judges of the court, except that
the combined base salary of the chief justice of a court of appeals
from all state and county sources may not exceed the amount equal to
$15,500 more [$2,500 less] than the base salary for a justice of the
supreme court as determined under this subsection.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply
beginning with the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1,
2025.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.