bill to drop district clerk fees on electronic copies

The text as introduced · 458 words

89R13996 BCH-F

By: Bumgarner
H.B. No. 3765

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the cost of requesting electronic copies of documents

from a district clerk.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 51.318(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) The fees are:

(1) for issuing a subpoena, including one copy ......

$8;

(2) for issuing a citation, commission for deposition,

writ of execution, order of sale, writ of execution and order of

sale, writ of injunction, writ of garnishment, writ of attachment,

or writ of sequestration, or any other writ or process not otherwise

provided for, including one copy if required by law ...... $8;

(3) for searching files or records to locate a cause

when the docket number is not provided or to ascertain the existence

of an instrument or record in the district clerk's office ...... $5;

(4) for abstracting a judgment ...... $8;

(5) for preparation of the clerk's record on appeal,

for each page or part of a page ...... $1;

(6) for approving a bond ...... $5;

(7) for a certified copy of a record, judgment, order,

pleading, or paper on file or of record in the district clerk's

office:

(A) including certificate and seal ...... $5; and

(B) for each page or part of a page:

(i) printed on paper ...... $1; or

(ii) that is a paper document converted to

electronic format ...... $1; [ or

[ (iii) that is an electronic copy of an

electronic document:

[ (a) for a document up to 10 pages in

length ...... $1; and

[ (b) for each page or part of a page

over 10 pages ...... $0.10; ]

(8) for a noncertified copy:

(A) printed on paper, for each page or part of a

page ...... $1; or

(B) that is a paper document converted to

electronic format, for each page or part of a page ...... $1; and

[ or

[ (C) that is an electronic copy of an electronic

document:

[ (i) for each document up to 10 pages in

length ...... $1; and

[ (ii) for each page or part of a page over

10 pages ...... $0.10; ]

(9) for preparation of the clerk's record of transfer

under Sections 33.105 and 1023.006, Estates Code, Section 155.207,

Family Code, and Sections 51.3071 and 51.403 of this code:

(A) for the clerk's transfer certificate and

index ...... $5;

(B) for each page or part of a page of a case

record up to 10 pages in length ...... $1.00; and

(C) for each page or part of a page of a case

record over 10 pages ...... $0.10.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.