HB 1033 — Various judicial matters.

Summary

Amends the membership of the community corrections advisory board. Defines "full court" as the total of all Marion superior court judges who are appointed and serving as judges. Specifies that if a newly appointed judge is filling a vacancy of a judge whose term ends the same year as the appointment, the newly appointed judge shall serve a term that expires on December 31 of the sixth full year following the appointment. Requires the Marion County judicial selection committee (judicial selection committee) to nominate five candidates to the governor when a judicial vacancy exists and allows the governor to appoint any of the nominated candidates when filling more than one vacancy. Replaces the term "presiding judge" with "chief judge" within the Marion County superior court. Amends the membership of the judicial selection committee. Prohibits a member of the judicial selection committee who is not an ex officio member to serve consecutive terms and staggers the terms of certain members of the judicial selection committee to begin on July 1, 2026, or July 1, 2028. Requires the judicial selection committee to determine that a judge is suitable to retain judicial office before a judge's request for retention may be placed on the ballot. Establishes a procedure with specific deadlines for a judge who wishes to stand for retention in 2026. Repeals and replaces a provision concerning the procedure to select the Marion County judicial executive committee (executive committee) and certain court provisions. Provides that, for an executive committee starting a term on January 1, 2027, and for the selection of each executive committee thereafter, the full court shall meet not later than November 15 in the final year of the executive committee's term to select the candidates of the next executive committee. Requires a two-thirds vote of the sitting judges who will hold office on January 1 of the next year to select the candidates of the executive committee and requires the chair of the judicial selection committee to approve the members of the executive committee and select one member of the executive committee as the chief judge. Allows the chair of the judicial selection committee to remove a member of the executive committee for cause. Increases the term of an executive committee member of the Marion County judiciary from two years to three years. Specifies which duties are the responsibility of the full court and which are to be determined by a trial judge. Describes the duties and authority of the executive committee. Provides that any action taken by the executive committee may only be overruled by a vote of 85% of the full court sitting at the time the vote is taken. Removes a requirement that the executive committee requires the approval of two-thirds of the judges to determine the number of judicial officers and personnel required to serve the court. Provides that the judge of the circuit court has exclusive authority to appoint commissioners or magistrates allocated to the circuit court. Amends how magistrates and commissioners are appointed. Specifies that the executive committee has final authority for all employment decisions regarding commissioners and magistrates. Repeals a provision that allows the presiding judge to appoint a magistrate and allows the executive committee to appoint 28 magistrates. Requires a voting member of the justice reinvestment advisory council to cast a vote in person. Requires that, in a county having a consolidated city, the chief judge or a judge appointed by the chief judge be the chair of the local justice reinvestment advisory council. Provides that a local or regional advisory council may only take action upon the affirmative vote of the members and a member must cast a vote in person. Makes conforming changes.

Bill Text

• Enrolled Enrolled House Bill (H) Current pdf
• Engrossed Engrossed House Bill (H) pdf
• House Bill (S) View text pdf
• Introduced Introduced House Bill (H) pdf

Action History

1. February 27, 2026

   Signed by the President of the Senate

2. March 04, 2026

   Signed by the Governor

3. February 27, 2026

   Signed by the President Pro Tempore

4. March 04, 2026

   Public Law 76

5. February 26, 2026

   Signed by the Speaker

6. February 26, 2026

   House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 389: yeas 59, nays 27

7. February 25, 2026

   Motion to concur filed

8. February 24, 2026

   Third reading: passed; Roll Call 228: yeas 39, nays 9

9. February 24, 2026

   Returned to the House with amendments

10. February 24, 2026

    Representative Garcia Wilburn removed as coauthor

11. February 23, 2026

    Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

12. February 23, 2026

    Amendment #4 (Qaddoura) failed; Roll Call 210: yeas 9, nays 40

13. February 23, 2026

    Amendment #5 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote

14. February 23, 2026

    Amendment #9 (Carrasco) prevailed; voice vote

15. February 23, 2026

    Amendment #7 (Taylor G) failed; voice vote

16. February 23, 2026

    Amendment #3 (Qaddoura) failed; voice vote

17. February 23, 2026

    Amendment #8 (Taylor G) failed; voice vote

18. February 19, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

19. January 26, 2026

    First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary

20. January 21, 2026

    Referred to the Senate

21. January 20, 2026

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 52: yeas 88, nays 2

22. January 20, 2026

    Senate sponsor: Senator Carrasco

23. January 15, 2026

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

24. January 13, 2026

    Representative Garcia Wilburn added as coauthor

25. January 12, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

26. December 02, 2025

    Reassigned to Committee on Judiciary

27. December 01, 2025

    Authored by Representative Lopez

28. December 01, 2025

    First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

29. December 01, 2025

    Coauthored by Representatives Jeter, Steuerwald

Sponsors

• Danny Lopez · Primary

Votes

Subjects