HB 4260

relating to a prohibition on the practice of law in certain courts
by a county commissioner or a county judge.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 82.064, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read
(b)  A county judge [or county clerk] who is licensed to
practice law may not appear and practice as an attorney at law in:
(1)  any court in the county where the county judge
(2)  any other county or justice court except in cases
over which the court in which the judge [or clerk] serves has
neither original nor appellate jurisdiction.
(c)  A county clerk who is licensed to practice law may not
appear and practice as an attorney at law in the supreme court, the
court of criminal appeals, a court of appeals, [or] a district
court, or any county or justice court unless the court in which the
clerk serves has neither original nor appellate jurisdiction.
(d)  A county commissioner who is licensed to practice law
may not appear and practice as an attorney at law in any court of
appeals, district court, county court, or justice court with
jurisdiction in the county the county commissioner serves.
SECTION 2.  Sections 171.010(c) and (d), Local Government
SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an action or proceeding filed on or after the effective date of this
Act.  An action or proceeding filed before the effective date of
this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the action or
proceeding was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.