House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Leadership

Chair

Jeff Leach (R)

House District 67

Allen

Vice Chair

Ann Johnson (D)

House District 134

Houston

Committee Composition

Committee Membership

Leach, Jeff (R) House District 67 Allen Johnson, Ann (D) House District 134 Houston Dutton Jr., Harold (D) House District 142 Houston Dyson, Paul (R) House District 14 Bryan Flores, Lulu (D) House District 51 Austin González, Jessica (D) House District 104 Dallas Hayes, Richard (R) House District 57 Hickory Creek LaHood, Marc (R) House District 121 San Antonio Landgraf, Brooks (R) House District 81 Odessa Moody, Joe (D) House District 78 El Paso Schofield, Mike (R) House District 132 Katy

Most Recent Session Activity

Metrics reflect activity during the most recent legislative session.

Interim Charges

• Monitoring: Monitor the implementation and associated rulemaking of all legislation passed by the Committee and enacted by the 89th Legislature, including the following:
  • HB 116, relating to the grounds for the involuntary termination of the parent-child relationship;
  • HB 581, relating to the creation of artificial sexual material harmful to minors;
  • HB 4623, relating to liability of public schools and professional school employees for sexual misconduct involving students;
  • SB 38, relating to the eviction from real property of certain persons not entitled to enter, occupy, or remain in possession of the premises; and
  • SB 835, relating to the enforceability of certain nondisclosure or confidentiality provisions with respect to an act of sexual abuse.
• Safeguarding Against the Influence of Foreign Law: Review the implementation of HB 45 (2017), which ensures that Texas courts prioritize U.S. and state constitutional protections when considering foreign laws in family law matters. Evaluate whether Sharia law or any other foreign law contrary to the U.S. and Texas constitutions has permeated into other judicial and legal matters in Texas.
• State Office of Administrative Hearings Emergency Order Procedures: Study the State Office of Administrative Hearings’ use of emergency order procedures and deadlines. Evaluate how standardization of these procedures and deadlines may improve administrative efficiency.
• Gender Modification and Health Care Liability: Study limitations on a health care liability claim involving certain gender modification drugs provided to and procedures performed on a minor. Review the effectiveness of those provisions and make recommendations to update current law.
• Court-Ordered Mental Health Services: Review the process, criteria, duration, outcome, and necessity of court-ordered mental health services for families and children, including reunification therapies. Evaluate the availability and appointment of such providers. Analyze the effectiveness of these services and the financial burden they can impose. Determine if these mandated services infringe on parental rights.
• Judicial Data Collection Reform: Review existing court data collection and reporting practices conducted by the Office of Court Administration and the Texas Judicial Council. Determine whether additional data should be collected to provide sufficient transparency and consistency to support due process and efficient resolution of cases.
• Use of Artificial Intelligence in Legal Practice: Evaluate the use of artificial intelligence within the legal profession and judiciary. Study the risks and benefits associated with using artificial intelligence and how to mitigate actual or potential harms.
• Insurers’ Use of Staff Counsel: Study insurers’ use of staff attorneys to represent insureds. Consider the integrity of the attorney-client relationship when staff attorneys are assigned to defend the insured’s interests. Identify scenarios in which the insurer’s and insured’s interests may not be congruent and whether ethical concerns exist.
• Agency Oversight: Monitor the agencies under the Committee’s jurisdiction, including for fraud, waste, and abuse, where applicable. The jurisdiction of the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee includes the following agencies:
  • The Supreme Court; The courts of appeals; The Court of Criminal Appeals;
  • The State Commission on Judicial Conduct; The Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System;
  • The State Law Library; The Texas Judicial Council; The Judicial Branch Certification Commission;
  • The Office of the Attorney General; The Board of Law Examiners; The State Bar of Texas; and The State Office of Administrative Hearings.
• Subcommittee on Family and Fiduciary Relationships — Timeline for Divorce and Child Custody Proceedings: Examine current practices and procedures for spousal separation and child custody proceedings. Identify any inefficiencies and determine how the implementation of standardized scheduling orders and timelines could impact outcomes.