Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Texas Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
S.B. No. 1574 AN ACT relating to a centers of excellence program developed by the Texas Judicial Council for certain justices and judges. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 71, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 71.040 to read as follows: Sec. 71.040. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE. (a) The council by rule shall develop a centers of excellence program to identify, support, and recognize justices and judges who excel in serving their communities and in representing the judiciary. In awarding a center of excellence recognition to a justice or judge, the council must consider: (1) a justice's or judge's governance, access, fairness, case flow management, and court operations; and (2) the compliance of the justice's or judge's court with statutory or procedural requirements for judicial reporting, court security, fee collection, indigent defense, and guardianship fraud and abuse prevention. (b) A justice or judge of an appellate court, district court, statutory county court, statutory probate court, county court, justice court, or municipal court is eligible for recognition as a center of excellence and may apply for recognition on a form and in the manner prescribed by the council. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a justice or judge recognized under a centers of excellence program developed by the Texas Judicial Council on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1574 passed the Senate on April 28, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 26, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1574 passed the House, with amendment, on May 23, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 96, Nays 30, one present not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor
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