SB 303
bill lets some courts use uncertified interpreters
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the appointment of spoken language interpreters for certain court proceedings.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Justice and municipal courts in counties of 50,000 or more. Any language.
This bill lets justice courts, municipal courts and municipal courts of record use spoken language interpreters who are not certified or licensed. It covers those courts in counties with 50,000 or more people, and it applies to any language, including Spanish. Today those courts can use an uncertified interpreter only for a language other than Spanish and only after finding no licensed interpreter within 75 miles; this bill drops both conditions for those courts starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB303 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the appointment of spoken language interpreters for certain court proceedings.
WHAT IT DOES
Justice and municipal courts in counties of 50,000 or more. Any language.
This bill lets justice courts, municipal courts and municipal courts of record use spoken language interpreters who are not certified or licensed. It covers those courts in counties with 50,000 or more people, and it applies to any language, including Spanish. Today those courts can use an uncertified interpreter only for a language other than Spanish and only after finding no licensed interpreter within 75 miles; this bill drops both conditions for those courts starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 13, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.
Ryan Texas PAC$35,000.00
Ryan Texas PAC
$35,000.00
- Cash
- $35,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $35,000.00
Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983698, 101057700.
Fort Stockton Holdings LP$25,000.00
Fort Stockton Holdings LP
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983698.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$60,000.00
- Cash
- $60,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $60,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Nov 13, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.
Ryan Texas PAC
$35,000.00
- Cash
- $35,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $35,000.00
Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983698, 101057700.
Fort Stockton Holdings LP
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100983698.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Nov 12, 2024
02/03/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 1748 by Darby (identical)
Subjects
Courts--Personnel
Text
The text as introduced · 159 words
89R770 AMF-F By: Perry S.B. No. 303 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the appointment of spoken language interpreters for certain court proceedings. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 57.002(d), Government Code, is amended to read as follows: (d) Subject to Subsection (e), in a county with a population of 50,000 or more, a court may appoint a spoken language interpreter who is not a certified or licensed court interpreter : (1) if: (A) [ (1) ] the language necessary in the proceeding is a language other than Spanish; and (B) [ (2) ] the court makes a finding that there is no licensed court interpreter within 75 miles who can interpret in the language that is necessary in a proceeding ; or (2) if the court is a justice court, municipal court, or municipal court of record . SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.