Monitoring the Session

SB 387

bill raises probate judges’ bonds to $500,000

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

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 bond requirements for certain judges.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Old $100,000 and $250,000 tiers out. $500,000 floor in.

The bill raises the bond that county judges and statutory county court judges must post before taking office when they handle guardianship or probate cases, setting a floor of $500,000 instead of the old $100,000 or $250,000 tiers based on county population. It also extends the bond rule to statutory county court judges who do not handle guardianship cases, so they must post a $1,000 to $10,000 bond set by the commissioners court. Starting September 1, 2025, these judges need larger or new bonds payable to the county treasurer, and the bonds are conditioned on faithful performance and on following the Estates Code for guardianship and probate work.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 2292 (Vetoed). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Judith Zaffirini (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Brooks Landgraf (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB387 · 2024-11-18

SOLD BY

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to bond requirements for certain judges.

WHAT IT DOES

Old $100,000 and $250,000 tiers out. $500,000 floor in.

The bill raises the bond that county judges and statutory county court judges must post before taking office when they handle guardianship or probate cases, setting a floor of $500,000 instead of the old $100,000 or $250,000 tiers based on county population. It also extends the bond rule to statutory county court judges who do not handle guardianship cases, so they must post a $1,000 to $10,000 bond set by the commissioners court. Starting September 1, 2025, these judges need larger or new bonds payable to the county treasurer, and the bonds are conditioned on faithful performance and on following the Estates Code for guardianship and probate work.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 1, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Jurisprudence
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Testimony taken in committee
  8. Left pending in committee
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Vote taken in committee
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  12. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  13. Committee report printed and distributed
  14. Co-author authorized
  15. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  16. Laid before the Senate
  17. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  18. Vote recorded in Journal
  19. Three day rule suspended
  20. Record vote
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the Senate
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
  28. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
  29. Considered by s/c in public hearing
  30. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
  31. Left pending in subcommittee
  32. Recalled from subcommittee
  33. Considered in public hearing
  34. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  35. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  36. Committee report distributed
  37. Committee report sent to Calendars
  38. Considered in Calendars
  39. Placed on General State Calendar
  40. Read 2nd time
  41. Passed to 3rd reading
  42. Record vote RV#3273
  43. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  44. Read 3rd time
  45. Passed
  46. Record vote RV#3350
  47. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  48. House passage reported
  49. Reported enrolled
  50. Signed in the Senate
  51. Signed in the House
  52. Sent to the Governor
  53. Signed by the Governor
  54. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 116 yea · 12 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 16, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Judith Zaffirini

Donors

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000Killam Development Ltd.$73KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60K

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.

Carlos M. Zaffirini Jr$110,000.00
Killam Development Ltd.$72,700.00

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$62,700.00
Total
$72,700.00
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$60,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Killam Development Ltd.

$72,700.00

Cash
$10,000.00
Paid by others
$62,700.00
Total
$72,700.00
advertising $33,000.00media $29,700.00

Also funds 3 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 16, 2025 to Aug 20, 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: 101011018, 101057658.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 11, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100959783, 100987492, 101011018, 101035338, 101057658.

Votes5

House May 23, 2025

Yea
116
Nay
12
Present, not voting
1
Absent
15
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3350

SB 387 was passed by (Record 3350): 116 Yeas, 12 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 116 (published)
  • Nay: 12 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 15 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 22, 2025

Yea
110
Nay
31
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3273

SB 387 was passed to third reading by (Record 3273): 110 Yeas, 31 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 110 (published)
  • Nay: 31 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Final passage

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 387 (Zaffirini) Relating to bond requirements for certain judges. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
31
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 387 (Zaffirini) Relating to bond requirements for certain judges. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 31 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

SB 387 (Zaffirini) Relating to bond requirements for certain judges. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses4
For
4
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Self1 registration
  • Self; Statutory Probate Courts of Texas1 registration
  • Self; Texas Real Estate and Probate Institute1 registration
  • Statutory Probate Judges of Texas1 registration
Sources

4 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 1, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R SB 2292

by Sen. Zaffirini, same lead author · Vetoed · same text

Introduced text

Last action, Jun 18, 2023: Vetoed by the Governor

Relating to bond requirements for certain judges.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Nov 18, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Royce WestDSenate 23
Sponsors
Brooks LandgrafRHouse 81

House committee · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · Jurisprudence · Committee vote 4 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Courts--County & Statutory

Courts--Judges

Probate--Guardians & Related Trusts

BONDS

Text

The text as introduced · 453 words

89R4640 EAS-D

By: Zaffirini
S.B. No. 387

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to bond requirements for certain judges.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 25.0006(a-1) and (a-4), Government

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a-1) Before beginning the duties of the office, the judge

of a statutory county court must execute a bond that:

(1) is payable to the treasurer of the county;

(2) is in the amount set by the commissioners court of:

(A) subject to Paragraph (B), not less than

$1,000 nor more than $10,000; or

(B) for a judge presiding in the court over

guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section 1002.015, Estates

Code, or over probate proceedings, as defined by Section 22.029,

Estates Code, not less than $500,000 [ :

[ (i) $100,000 for a court in a county with a

population of 125,000 or less; or

[ (ii) $250,000 for a court in a county with

a population of more than 125,000 ]; and

(3) is conditioned that the judge will:

(A) faithfully perform all duties of office; and

(B) for a judge presiding in the court over

guardianship or probate proceedings, perform the duties required by

the Estates Code.

(a-4) This section does not apply to:

(1) [ a judge of a statutory county court who does not

preside over guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section

1002.015, Estates Code;

[ (2) ] a judge of a statutory probate court who

executes a bond, obtains insurance, or self-insures pursuant to

Section 25.00231; or

(2) [ (3) ] a judge who presides over a county criminal

court.

SECTION 2. Section 26.001(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) Before beginning the duties of the office, the county

judge must execute a bond that:

(1) is payable to the treasurer of the county;

(2) is in the amount set by the commissioners court of:

(A) subject to Paragraph (B), not less than

$1,000 nor more than $10,000; or

(B) for a county judge presiding in the county

court over guardianship proceedings, as defined by Section

1002.015, Estates Code, or over probate proceedings, as defined by

Section 22.029, Estates Code, not less than $500,000 [ :

[ (i) $100,000 for a court in a county with a

population of 125,000 or less; or

[ (ii) $250,000 for a court in a county with

a population of more than 125,000 ]; and

(3) is conditioned that the judge will:

(A) faithfully perform all duties of office; and

(B) for a county judge presiding in the county

court over guardianship or probate proceedings, perform the duties

required by the Estates Code.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.