By Ned Minevitz Municipal Courts of Record & Chapter 55A Expunctions Municipal courts of record are authorized to process expunctions under Chapter 55A of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Chapter 55A expunctions are distinct from expunctions that all municipal courts process, such as juvenile expunctions under Article 45A.463 of the Code of Criminal Procedure orContinue reading “Temporary Repeal of the Chapter 55A Expunction Fee”
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HB 2282: What Municipal Court Personnel Need to Know About the Warrant Fee Change
Heads up, court personnel: HB 2282 changes the warrant fee, but the increase doesn’t apply in every case starting September 1, 2025. The rules depend on both the date of offense and the timing of when the fee is assessed. House Bill 2282 (89th Legislature) amends Article 102.011(a), Code of Criminal Procedure. It raises theContinue reading “HB 2282: What Municipal Court Personnel Need to Know About the Warrant Fee Change”
New Notice Requirement for Dismissed State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) Complaints
by Ned Minevitz This year, the Texas Legislature passed S.B. 293, which overhauled Chapter 33 of the Government Code (“State Commission on Judicial Conduct”). One change that is likely to get municipal judges’ attention is new Section 33.022(b-2). This law requires the SCJC to provide notice to a judge within five business days of dismissingContinue reading “New Notice Requirement for Dismissed State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) Complaints”
HB 1950 Creates a New Consolidated Fund for Cities Under 100,000
On May 29, 2025, Governor Abbott signed House Bill 1950, introducing a new funding structure for municipal courts in cities under 100,000 in population. The bill went into effect immediately and creates the Municipal Court Building Security and Technology Fund, a consolidated account that simplifies how two key portions of the $14 Local Consolidated FeeContinue reading “HB 1950 Creates a New Consolidated Fund for Cities Under 100,000 “
TMCEC Welcomes Madison Mondragon as Program Attorney & Deputy Counsel!
Mark Goodner sat down with Madison Mondragon to discuss her recent arrival at TMCEC. MG: Madison, welcome to the TMCEC team! You’ve now been with us for three weeks or so. What’s it been like getting started, and what have you been focusing on during your first days here? MM: It has been a greatContinue reading “TMCEC Welcomes Madison Mondragon as Program Attorney & Deputy Counsel! “
Protections Regarding Fines and Fees in Chapter 45A: Safeguarding Justice for All
Municipal courts in Texas are tasked with ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all defendants, particularly those unable to pay fines and court costs due to indigence. With the implementation of Chapter 45A of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the procedural safeguards for indigent defendants have been reorganized. This blog highlights some key protectionsContinue reading “Protections Regarding Fines and Fees in Chapter 45A: Safeguarding Justice for All”
Youth Diversion Plans: Elements to Consider
January 1, 2025 will be here before we know it. By that date, a youth diversion plan must be adopted by each municipal court in Texas. It must be a written plan that describes the types of strategies that will be used to implement youth diversion, and it must be maintained on file for publicContinue reading “Youth Diversion Plans: Elements to Consider”
Celebrating Excellence: The Inaugural Class of TMCEC’s Prosecutor Professionalism Program
The Texas Municipal Courts Education Center (TMCEC) is proud to celebrate a major milestone in our continued effort to support and elevate the standard of municipal prosecution across Texas. In 2024, we recognize 17 members of the inaugural class of the TMCEC Prosecutor Professionalism Program—a group of dedicated professionals who have demonstrated a commitment toContinue reading “Celebrating Excellence: The Inaugural Class of TMCEC’s Prosecutor Professionalism Program”
The Silver Tsunami and Its Impact on Driving Safety: A Challenge for Texas Municipal Courts
A dozen years ago, TMCEC presented a class on the “Silver Tsunami,” a term describing the growing wave of older adults in our population. The wave continues to grow and the implications for public safety, especially driving safety, are becoming more evident. This demographic shift is raising important questions for municipal courts across the state.Continue reading “The Silver Tsunami and Its Impact on Driving Safety: A Challenge for Texas Municipal Courts”
Webinar Tutorial
TMCEC recently changed our Learning Management System for our Online Learning Center (OLC). Our new provider, Top Class, communicates directly with our database, so users will see credits on their transcripts quickly and reliably. If you haven’t attended a webinar yet on the new system, it may be a little different than you’re used to.Continue reading “Webinar Tutorial”
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