TX HB5079

Establishes a general requirement that masters, magistrates, referees, and associate judges appointed under Chapter 54 of the Government Code must have been licensed to practice law in Texas for at least five years before appointment

Creates exceptions for certain county-specific positions (under Sections 54.991, 54.1231, 54.1501, 54.1851, 54.2001, 54.2301, and 54.2802) that only require two years of law licensure before appointment

Removes the previous four-year law license requirement from multiple county-specific magistrate and hearing officer qualification statutes, replacing it with the new standardized five-year general requirement

Eliminates alternative qualification pathways for some positions that previously allowed prior service as a justice of the peace or municipal court judge to substitute for law licensure requirements

Applies only to appointments made on or after September 1, 2025, with existing masters, magistrates, referees, and associate judges continuing under the qualifications in effect at the time of their appointment