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HB1033Introduced in the House

Various judicial matters.

Passed

Introduced by Danny Lopez, District 39

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Various judicial matters. Amends the membership of the community corrections advisory board. Defines "full court" as the total of all Marion superior court judges who are appointed and serving as judges. Specifies that if a newly appointed judge is filling a vacancy of a judge whose term ends the same year as the appointment, the newly appointed judge shall serve a term that expires on December 31 of the sixth full year following the appointment. Requires the Marion County judicial selection committee (judicial selection committee) to nominate five candidates to the governor when a judicial vacancy exists and allows the governor to appoint any of the nominated candidates when filling more than one vacancy. Replaces the term "presiding judge" with "chief judge" within the Marion County superior court. Amends the membership of the judicial selection committee. Prohibits a member of the judicial selection committee who is not an ex officio member to serve consecutive terms and staggers the terms of certain members of the judicial selection committee to begin on July 1, 2026, or July 1, 2028. Requires the judicial selection committee to determine that a judge is suitable to retain judicial office before a judge's request for retention may be placed on the ballot. Establishes a procedure with specific deadlines for a judge who wishes to stand for retention in 2026. Repeals and replaces a provision concerning the procedure to select the Marion County judicial executive committee (executive committee) and certain court provisions. Provides that, for an executive committee starting a term on January 1, 2027, and for the selection of each executive committee thereafter, the full court shall meet not later than November 15 in the final year of the executive committee's term to select the candidates of the next executive committee. Requires a two-thirds vote of the sitting judges who will hold office on January 1 of the next year to select the candidates of the executive committee and requires the chair of the judicial selection committee to approve the members of the executive committee and select one member of the executive committee as the chief judge. Allows the chair of the judicial selection committee to remove a member of the executive committee for cause. Increases the term of an executive committee member of the Marion County judiciary from two years to three years. Specifies which duties are the responsibility of the full court and which are to be determined by a trial judge. Describes the duties and authority of the executive committee. Provides that any action taken by the executive committee may only be overruled by a vote of 85% of the full court sitting at the time the vote is taken. Removes a requirement that the executive committee requires the approval of two-thirds of the judges to determine the number of judicial officers and personnel required to serve the court. Provides that the judge of the circuit court has exclusive authority to appoint commissioners or magistrates allocated to the circuit court. Amends how magistrates and commissioners are appointed. Specifies that the executive committee has final authority for all employment decisions regarding commissioners and magistrates. Repeals a provision that allows the presiding judge to appoint a magistrate and allows the executive committee to appoint 28 magistrates. Requires a voting member of the justice reinvestment advisory council to cast a vote in person. Requires that, in a county having a consolidated city, the chief judge or a judge appointed by the chief judge be the chair of the local justice reinvestment advisory council. Provides that a local or regional advisory council may only take action upon the affirmative vote of the members and a member must cast a vote in person. Makes conforming changes.

Where it stands

Public Law 76

March 4, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

HouseStage: House - House concurred with Senate amendments · February 26, 2026

59

Yes

27

No

14

Absent or Not Voting

100 representatives recorded in this House vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each representative voted

Bill history

  1. Coauthored by Representatives Jeter, Steuerwald

  2. Authored by Representative Lopez

  3. First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

  4. Reassigned to Committee on Judiciary

  5. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  6. Representative Garcia Wilburn added as coauthor

  7. Second reading: ordered engrossed

  8. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 52: yeas 88, nays 2

  9. Senate sponsor: Senator Carrasco

  10. Referred to the Senate

  11. First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary

  12. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  13. Amendment #5 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote

  14. Amendment #4 (Qaddoura) failed; Roll Call 210: yeas 9, nays 40

  15. Amendment #3 (Qaddoura) failed; voice vote

  16. Amendment #7 (Taylor G) failed; voice vote

  17. Amendment #8 (Taylor G) failed; voice vote

  18. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  19. Amendment #9 (Carrasco) prevailed; voice vote

  20. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 228: yeas 39, nays 9

  21. Representative Garcia Wilburn removed as coauthor

  22. Returned to the House with amendments

  23. Motion to concur filed

  24. Signed by the Speaker

  25. House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 389: yeas 59, nays 27

  26. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  27. Signed by the President of the Senate

  28. Signed by the Governor

  29. Public Law 76

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