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Signed Into Law
Signed June 20, 2025Effective 2025-09-01
SB1574

Regular Session

Relating to a centers of excellence program developed by the Texas Judicial Council for certain justices and judges.

Government Affairs & Regulatory Compliance Analysis

SB1574: Government Affairs Overview

SB1574 incentivizes Texas judges with a potential 5% merit pay increase to accelerate case dispositions, enforce strict fee collections, and optimize court security. While the law targets the judiciary, businesses involved in litigation must anticipate a significantly more aggressive court system with reduced leniency for procedural delays and unpaid court costs starting late 2025.

Sen. Judith Zaffirini·Senate Bill·Regular Session

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies

Texas Judicial Council

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SB1574
Low
Relating to a centers of excellence program developed by the Texas Judicial Council for certain justices and judges.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
Texas Judicial Council
Primary Author: Sen. Judith Zaffirini
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: Q1 2026 (Anticipated). While the law is effective in September, judges will require time to implement changes to qualify for the program. Expect docket pressure to increase in early 2026.
  • Agency Rulemaking: The Texas Judicial Council (TJC) must develop the specific criteria and application forms after the effective date. We are entering a "regulatory gray zone" where the specific metrics for "excellence" are undefined until late 2025.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Open Litigation: Identify active cases in major metro counties (Harris, Dallas, Travis, Bexar), as these jurisdictions are most likely to pursue the "Center of Excellence" status and the associated funding.
  • Update AP Protocols: Reclassify court cost invoices as "Urgent/Immediate" to align with the judiciary's new focus on collection metrics.
  • Review Vendor Capabilities: If you sell to the government, immediately assess if your product helps a judge prove they are "excellent" (e.g., faster processing, better security). Pitch this upgrade during the next budget cycle.
  • Monitor TJC Rulemaking: Assign a compliance officer to watch the Texas Judicial Council agenda in late 2025 for the release of the specific evaluation criteria.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Government Vendors: If you provide case management software, security, or collections services to Texas counties, you must amend your Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Your clients will demand data reporting capabilities that align specifically with the TJC’s new "Centers of Excellence" metrics.
  • Outside Counsel Guidelines: Review engagement letters with external law firms. You must mandate adherence to stricter scheduling orders, as "Centers of Excellence" courts will likely deny discretionary continuances to maintain their efficiency stats.

Hiring/Training

  • Litigation Management: Train in-house counsel and claims managers to identify which venues are pursuing this designation. Cases in these courts will move faster; internal settlement authority protocols may need to be accelerated to match the court's pace.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Vendor Dashboards: Technology providers for courts must upgrade reporting suites to track "time to disposition," "clearance rates," and "fee collection rates" automatically.
  • Internal Audits: Litigants should track case outcomes by judge to determine if "Excellence" designated judges are prioritizing speed over thoroughness in complex commercial matters.

Fees & Costs

  • Accounts Payable Prioritization: The law explicitly links judicial recognition to fee collection rates. Courts will become aggressive regarding filing fees and court costs. AP departments must flag court-related invoices for immediate payment to prevent procedural roadblocks or dismissal risks.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • The "Fairness" Metric: The statute requires the TJC to evaluate "fairness," but does not define it. If the TJC utilizes litigant satisfaction surveys, businesses may gain a new mechanism to provide formal feedback on judicial performance.
  • Merit Pay Appropriation: The Fiscal Note indicates a 5% salary bonus for recognized judges, but the bill text relies on legislative appropriation. If the legislature fails to fund the bonus, participation will be low. If funded, participation will be high, and docket speeds will increase drastically.
  • "Statutory Compliance": It is unclear if a single administrative error disqualifies a judge. This may lead to hyper-technical enforcement of rules by court clerks against your legal filings.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 24, 2025
Passed Senate
Apr 28, 2025
Passed House
May 23, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
Effective
Sep 1, 2025
TopicsCounty GovernmentCounty Government--generalCourtsCourts--judgesCourts--justiceTexas Judicial Council
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Author
Coauthors (1)

House Sponsor

Rep. Jeff LeachRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Sen. Judith Zaffirini

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1574

Q

What does Texas SB1574 do?

SB1574 incentivizes Texas judges with a potential 5% merit pay increase to accelerate case dispositions, enforce strict fee collections, and optimize court security. While the law targets the judiciary, businesses involved in litigation must anticipate a significantly more aggressive court system with reduced leniency for procedural delays and unpaid court costs starting late 2025.

Q

Who authored SB1574?

SB1574 was authored by Texas Senator Judith Zaffirini during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB1574 signed into law?

SB1574 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB1574?

SB1574 is enforced by Texas Judicial Council.

Q

How significant are the changes in SB1574?

The regulatory priority for SB1574 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the legislation to understand potential impacts.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB1574?

The cost impact of SB1574 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB1574 address?

SB1574 addresses topics including county government, county government--general, courts, courts--judges and courts--justice.

Q

What are the key dates for SB1574?

Key dates for SB1574: Effective date is 2025-09-01. Rulemaking: Develop rules to establish the Centers of Excellence program, including application forms and specific evaluation criteria. (Post-09/01/2025). Consult with legal counsel regarding applicability.

Need Strategic Guidance on This Legislation?

JD Key Consulting is an Austin, Texas-based government affairs firm led by James Dickey, former Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. We specialize in Texas regulatory compliance and legislative strategy for data centers, energy, banking, and manufacturing.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: January 11, 2026