TX HB1761

Requires courts to hear or consider summary judgment motions within 45 days of response filing and issue written rulings within 90 days, with quarterly compliance reporting to the Office of Court Administration

Expands judicial misconduct definitions to include persistent violations of bail rules (Article 17.15) and court participation requirements, and establishes a 7-year statute of limitations for complaints with good cause exceptions

Eliminates private sanctions by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct effective January 1, 2026 (contingent on constitutional amendment approval), making all judicial discipline sanctions public

Increases district judge base salary from $140,000 to $182,000 annually, adds tiered additional compensation for local administrative judges (3-7% based on court count), and provides 7% additional compensation for chief justices/presiding judges

Establishes new judicial transparency reporting requiring underperforming district court judges to submit quarterly attestations of hours worked on court duties, with annual reports submitted to state leadership

Authorizes administrative penalties of $500 to $10,000 for knowingly filing false complaints against judges, with escalating fines for repeat offenders