Texas 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session (2025) Status: Enacted

HB 16 — Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, record retention, youth diversion, court-ordered mental health services, the powers of the Texas Supreme Court, jurors, and the special prosecution unit; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees.

Last action — See remarks for effective date

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced August 15, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Greg Abbott (Republican) on September 17, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 80% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 19 sponsors

    6 primary, 13 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

16 added · 3 removed

16 line(s) added, 3 removed.

→
Previous
Latest
By:AALeach, Wilson, Morales of Maverick, H.B.ANo.A16 AAAAADyson, LaHood, et al.
H.B.ANo.A16 AN ACT relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, record retention, youth diversion, court-ordered mental health services, the powers of the Texas Supreme Court, jurors, and the special prosecution unit;
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, record retention, youth diversion, court-ordered mental health services, the powers of the Texas Supreme Court, jurors, and the special prosecution unit;
124
H.B.ANo.A16 ______________________________ ______________________________ AAAAPresident of the Senate Speaker of the HouseAAAAAA I certify that H.B.
No.
16 was passed by the House on August 25, 2025, by the following vote:
AAYeas 130, Nays 1, 1 present, not voting.
______________________________ Chief Clerk of the HouseAAA I certify that H.B.
No.
16 was passed by the Senate on August 26, 2025, by the following vote:AAYeas 27, Nays 0.
______________________________ Secretary of the SenateAAAA APPROVED:AA_____________________ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADateAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAA_____________________ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGovernorAAAAAAA 125
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How this bill changes current law

40 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Texas statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 31 section(s) of the Texas statutes: Section 24.127, Government Code, Section 24.127(a), Government Code, Section 24.144, Government Code, Section 24.360, Government Code, Section 24.451, Government Code, Section 24.537, Government Code.

  • Section 24.127, Government Code

    SECOND 25TH COLORADO, , , AND LAVACA → 522ND AND

    amended

  • Section 24.127(a), Government Code

    Second 25th Colorado, , , and Lavaca → 522nd and

    amended

  • Section 24.144, Government Code

    (b-1) In Callahan County, the 42nd District Court and the county court have concurrent jurisdiction over all original and appellate criminal matters over which the county court has jurisdiction. Matters and proceedings in the concurrent jurisdiction of the courts may be filed in or transferred between the 42nd District Court and the county court. All writs and processes issued and bonds and recognizances made in transferred cases are returnable to the court to which the case is transferred as if originally issued in that court.

    amended

  • Section 24.360, Government Code

    (a) (b) The 173rd District Court shall give preference to civil and family law matters.

    amended

  • Section 24.451, Government Code

    , GUADALUPE,

    amended

  • , Guadalupe, and concurrent jurisdiction with the 25th and Second 25th district courts in Guadalupe County

    amended

  • Section 24.537, Government Code

    (c) The 392nd District Court shall give preference to criminal cases.

    amended

  • Section 24.591(c), Government Code

    All civil and criminal matters within the concurrent jurisdiction of the county and district courts must be filed with the county clerk in the county court. The county clerk serves as the clerk of the district court for those matters → The district clerk serves as clerk of a district court in all criminal and civil matters, including family matters, except the county clerk serves as clerk of a district court in Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases, juvenile matters, probate matters, and guardianship matters. Each clerk shall establish a separate docket for a district court

    amended

  • Sec. 24.60035. 490TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (BRAZORIA COUNTY). The 490th Judicial District is composed of Brazoria County.

    added

  • Sec. 24.60037. 492ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT (COLORADO AND LAVACA COUNTIES). The 492nd Judicial District is composed of Colorado and Lavaca counties.

    added

  • Section 24.60043(d), Government Code

    All civil and criminal matters within the concurrent jurisdiction of the county and district courts must be filed with the county clerk in the county court. The county clerk serves as the clerk of the district court for those matters → The district clerk serves as the clerk of a district court in all criminal and civil matters, including family matters, except the county clerk serves as the clerk of a district court in Class A and Class B misdemeanor cases, juvenile matters, probate matters, and guardianship matters. Each clerk shall establish a separate docket for a district court

    amended

  • Sec. 24.60046. 501ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT (FORT BEND COUNTY). The 501st Judicial District is composed of Fort Bend County. Sec. 24.60047. 502ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT (FORT BEND COUNTY). The 502nd Judicial District is composed of Fort Bend County.

    amended

  • Section 24.60048

    Sec. 24.60048. 503RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (ROCKWALL COUNTY). The 503rd Judicial District is composed of Rockwall County.

    added

  • Section 24.60049

    Sec. 24.60049. 504TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (ELLIS COUNTY). The 504th Judicial District is composed of Ellis County.

    added

  • Sec. 24.60053. 511TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (COMAL COUNTY). The 511th Judicial District is composed of Comal County.

    added

  • Section 24.60054

    Sec. 24.60054. 512TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (WILLIAMSON COUNTY). The 512th Judicial District is composed of Williamson County.

    added

  • Sec. 24.60055. 513TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). (a) The 513th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. (b) The 513th District Court shall give preference to civil cases. Sec. 24.60056. 514TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). (a) The 514th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. (b) The 514th District Court shall give preference to civil cases. Sec. 24.60057. 515TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). (a) The 515th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. (b) The 515th District Court shall give preference to civil cases.

    amended

  • Sec. 24.60058. 516TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). (a) The 516th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. (b) The 516th District Court shall give preference to civil cases. Sec. 24.60059. 517TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (HARRIS COUNTY). (a) The 517th Judicial District is composed of Harris County. (b) The 517th District Court shall give preference to civil cases.

    amended

  • Sec. 24.60064. 523RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT (MONTGOMERY COUNTY). (a) The 523rd Judicial District is composed of Montgomery County. (b) The 523rd District Court shall give preference to criminal cases.

    added

  • Section 24.911, Government Code

    (a-2) Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 2 shall give preference to criminal cases.

    amended

  • Section 24.913, Government Code

    (e) Tarrant County Criminal District Court No. 4 shall give preference to criminal cases.

    amended

  • Section 43.101, Government Code

    Sabine and counties that court only in those counties → County the courts in that county

    amended

  • Section 43.1742, Government Code

    Sec. 43.1742. 273RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT. The voters of Sabine County elect a district attorney for the 273rd Judicial District who represents the state in the district courts in that county.

    added

  • Section 43.177, Government Code

    the 293rd Judicial District that one or more of the counties comprising the district . The commissioners court of each county may → Maverick County the Maverick County and (c) The district attorney of the 293rd Judicial District also represents the state in all criminal and civil matters that arise in the 365th Judicial District in Maverick County.

    amended

  • Section 43.1812, Government Code

    Sec. 43.1812. 365TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT. The voters of Dimmit and Zavala Counties elect a district attorney for the 365th Judicial District who represents the state in all civil and criminal matters in the district courts having jurisdiction in those counties.

    added

  • Section 46.002, Government Code

    273rd, Fayette,

    amended

  • mail $250,000 → provide $325,000

    amended

  • Section 25.0003(c), Government Code

    $250,000 → $325,000

    amended

  • Section 25.0005(a), Government Code

    or → a full-time district court, multicounty statutory county court, or statutory probate court associate judge; or (3)

    amended

  • Section 25.0007(c), Government Code

    $250,000 → $325,000

    amended

  • Section 25.00212, Government Code

    by that sum state deposited in → : (1) under Section 133.151(c)(1), Local Government Code, from fees remitted under Section 133.151(a)(1), Local Government Code, either: (A) directly to the treasury by the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System for fees paid using the electronic filing system established under Section 72.031; or (B) to the comptroller in the manner provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 133, Local Government Code, for fees paid to an officer of a court; (2) (a-1) comptroller determines the as calculated under Subsection (a)(1) the sum calculated under Subsection (a)(2) comptroller contributed to from fees collected a

    amended

  • Section 25.0022(f), Government Code

    collected pursuant to 118.052(2)(A)(vi) to it → allocated to the judicial education and support fund under 135.102

    amended

  • Section 25.0062(b), Government Code

    $250,000 → $325,000

    amended

  • Section 25.0092, Government Code

    and a total annual salary set by the commissioners court at an amount that is not less than $1,000 less than the total annual salary received by a district judge in the county. A district judge's or statutory county court judge's total annual salary does not include contributions and supplements paid by a county → ; and (6) civil cases in which the matter in controversy exceeds the maximum amount provided by Section 25.0003 but does not exceed $1 million, excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the petition, including: (A) a suit to decide the issue of title to real or personal property; (B) a suit for the enforcement of a lien on real property; (C) a suit for the trial of the right to property valued at $500 or more that has been levied on under a writ of execution, sequestration, or attachment; and (D) a suit for the recovery of real property (c-1) In addition to other assignments provided by law, a judge of the county court at law in Atascosa County is subject to assignment under Chapter 74 to any district court in Atascosa County. A county court at law judge assigned to a district court may hear any matter pending in the district court. as provided by Section 25.0005

    amended

  • Section 25.0212, Government Code

    $200,000 commissioners court may authorize the judge of a county court at law to set the reporter's salary → , including concurrent jurisdiction in: (1) specialty court programs; (2) misdemeanor cases; (3) family law cases and proceedings, including juvenile matters; and (4) probate and guardianship matters the amount provided in Section 25.0003 reporter of a county court at law is entitled to compensation, fees, and allowances in amounts equal to the amounts paid to the official court reporters serving the district courts in Bowie County, including an annual salary set by the judge of the county court at law and approved by the commissioners court (i) The jury in all civil or criminal matters is composed of 12 members, except in misdemeanor criminal cases and any other case in which the court has concurrent jurisdiction with county courts under Section 25.0003(a), the jury is composed of six members. (j) In matters of concurrent jurisdiction, a judge of a county court at law and a judge of a district court with jurisdiction in Bowie County may transfer cases between the courts in the same manner that judges of district courts may transfer cases under Section 24.003.

    amended

  • Section 25.1031(a), Government Code

    and → ; and (5) County Civil Court at Law No. 5 of Harris County, Texas

    amended

  • Section 25.1101(b), Government Code

    one statutory probate court, the → the following statutory probate courts: (1) No. 1 ; and (2) Probate Court No. 2 of Hidalgo County

    amended

  • Section 25.1102(a), Government Code

    in which the matter in controversy does not exceed $750,000, excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the page of the petition

    amended

  • Section 25.1902(b-1), Government Code

    County Court at Law No. 1 of has → county courts at law in have

    amended

  • Section 25.2282, Government Code

    (b) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section 25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Tom Green County has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in family law cases and proceedings.

    amended

Action History

  1. See remarks for effective date

  2. Signed by the Governor

  3. Sent to the Governor

  4. Signed in the Senate

  5. Signed in the House

  6. Reported enrolled

  7. Senate passage reported

  8. Record vote

  9. Passed

  10. Read 3rd time

  11. Record vote

  12. Three day rule suspended

  13. Vote recorded in Journal

  14. Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading

  15. Rules suspended-Regular order of business

  16. Ordered not printed

  17. Printing rule suspended

  18. Reported favorably w/o amendments

  19. Vote taken in committee

  20. Considered in public hearing

  21. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .

  22. Referred to State Affairs

  23. Read first time

  24. Received from the House

  25. Co-sponsor authorized

  26. Reported engrossed

  27. Reason for vote recorded in Journal

  28. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

  29. Record vote

  30. Passed

  31. Read 3rd time

  32. Passed to engrossment as amended

  33. Amended

  34. Laid out as postponed business

  35. Postponed

  36. Amendment withdrawn

  37. Laid out as postponed business

  38. Postponed

  39. Read 2nd time

  40. Placed on Major State Calendar

  41. Considered in Calendars

  42. Committee report sent to Calendars

  43. Committee report distributed

  44. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator

  45. Reported favorably as substituted

  46. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

  47. Committee substitute considered in committee

  48. Considered in public hearing

  49. Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

  50. Read first time

  51. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

6 sponsors · 13 co-sponsors · 165 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (6)

Co-sponsors (13)

Not signed on (165)

165 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 165 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

passage

Passed 130 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1301020
Total 1301020
% of votes cast 86%1%0%13%
How each member voted (151)
Member Party Vote
Present — Not Voting
Mr. Speaker(C) — Not Voting
Garcia — Not Voting
Morales — Not Voting
Rodríguez Ramo — Not Voting
AJ Louderback — Yea
Aicha Davis — Yea
Alan Schoolcraft — Yea
Alma Allen — Yea
Andy Hopper — Yea
Angelia Orr — Yea
Angie Button — Yea
Armando Martinez — Yea
Armando Walle — Yea
Barbara Gervin-Hawkins — Yea
Ben Bumgarner — Yea
Brad Buckley — Yea
Brent Money — Yea
Brian Harrison — Yea
Briscoe Cain — Yea
Brooks Landgraf — Yea
Candy Noble — Not Voting
Carl Tepper — Yea
Caroline Fairly — Yea
Carrie Isaac — Yea
Cassandra Garcia Hernandez — Yea
Cecil Bell — Yea
Charles Cunningham — Yea
Charlie Geren — Not Voting
Chris Turner — Yea
Christian Manuel — Yea
Claudia Ordaz — Yea
Cody Harris — Yea
Cody Vasut — Yea
Cole Hefner — Yea
Dade Phelan — Not Voting
Daniel Alders — Yea
David Lowe — Yea
David Spiller — Yea
Denise Villalobos — Yea
Dennis Paul — Yea
Diego Bernal — Not Voting
Don McLaughlin — Yea
Donna Howard — Yea
Drew Darby — Yea
Eddie Morales — Yea
Ellen Troxclair — Yea
Erin Gámez — Yea
Erin Zwiener — Nay
Garcia Hernandez — Yea
Gary Gates — Yea
Gary VanDeaver — Yea
Gene Wu — Not Voting
Gina Hinojosa — Yea
Giovanni Capriglione — Yea
Greg Bonnen — Yea
Harold V. Dutton, Jr. — Not Voting
Harris Davila — Yea
Helen Kerwin — Yea
Hillary Hickland — Yea
Hubert Vo — Yea
J. M. Lozano — Not Voting
James B. Frank — Yea
James Talarico — Yea
Janie Lopez — Yea
Janis Holt — Yea
Jared Patterson — Yea
Jay Dean — Yea
Jeff Barry — Yea
Jeff Leach — Yea
Jessica González — Yea
Joanne Shofner — Yea
Joe Moody — Yea
John Bryant — Yea
John Bucy III — Yea
John Lujan — Yea
John McQueeney — Yea
John Smithee — Yea
Jolanda Jones — Yea
Jon Rosenthal — Yea
Katrina Pierson — Yea
Keith Bell — Yea
Keresa Richardson — Yea
Lacey Hull — Yea
Lauren A. Simmons — Yea
Leo Wilson — Yea
Linda Garcia — Yea
Liz Campos — Yea
Mano DeAyala — Yea
Marc LaHood — Yea
Mark Dorazio — Yea
Mary Ann Perez — Yea
Mary E. González — Yea
Matt Morgan — Yea
Matt Shaheen — Yea
Mihaela Plesa — Yea
Mike Olcott — Yea
Mike Schofield — Yea
Mitch Little — Yea
Molly Cook — Yea
Morales Shaw — Not Voting
Morgan Meyer — Yea
Nate Schatzline — Yea
Nathan Johnson — Yea
Nicole Collier — Yea
Oscar Longoria — Not Voting
Pat Curry — Yea
Paul Dyson — Yea
Pete Flores — Not Voting
Phil King — Yea
Philip Cortez — Yea
R. D. "Bobby" Guerra — Yea
Rafael Anchía — Yea
Ramon Romero, Jr. — Yea
Ray Lopez — Yea
Rhetta Bowers — Yea
Richard Hayes — Yea
Richard Peña Raymond — Yea
Ron Reynolds — Not Voting
Ryan Guillen — Yea
Salman Bhojani — Yea
Sam Harless — Yea
Senfronia Thompson — Yea
Sergio Muñoz, Jr. — Yea
Shelby Slawson — Yea
Shelley Luther — Yea
Sheryl Cole — Yea
Stan Gerdes — Yea
Stan Kitzman — Yea
Stan Lambert — Not Voting
Steve Toth — Not Voting
Suleman Lalani — Yea
Terri Leo Wilson — Yea
Terry Canales — Not Voting
Thresa "Terry" Meza — Yea
Todd Hunter — Yea
Tom Craddick — Yea
Tom Oliverson — Yea
Toni Rose — Yea
Tony Tinderholt — Yea
Trent Ashby — Yea
Trey Martinez Fischer — Yea
Trey Wharton — Yea
Valoree Swanson — Yea
Venton Jones — Not Voting
Vikki Goodwin — Yea
Vincent Perez — Yea
Ward Johnson — Yea
Wes Virdell — Yea
Will Metcalf — Yea
Yvonne Davis — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 16?
HB 16 is sponsored by Leo Wilson, Judith Zaffirini, Kevin Sparks, Tan Parker, Adam Hinojosa, Brent Hagenbuch, Donna Campbell, Paul Bettencourt, Bryan Hughes, Shelley Luther, Richard Hayes, Jay Dean, Marc LaHood, Paul Dyson, Eddie Morales, Ken King, Terri Leo Wilson, Jeff Leach, and Gina Hinojosa.
What is the current status of HB 16?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced August 15, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 16?
Track HB 16 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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