Legislature boosts judiciary budget: staff raises, court tech funding and new positions

OCA staff told the Texas Judicial Council that the 2025 legislative session produced sizable funding increases for courts and judicial agencies.

The appropriation outcome: staff and program funding. “This was, I think, as far as budget wise, the best session ever for the judiciary,” an OCA presenter said. The legislature provided a 6% salary increase for judiciary staff; attorneys classified as general counsel or law clerks received an additional 6% effective Sept. 1; court coordinators received an additional 15% on top of the 6% to narrow pay gaps with county counterparts.

Technology and operations: the legislature allocated approximately $12 million to replace the appellate case management system (TAMS) and funded a new specialty‑court case management system and upgrades for the state commission on judicial conduct and the comptroller’s judiciary section. The public safety report system used for bail decisions received more than $6 million for changes required by SB 9, the council said.

New positions and regional support
OCA reported more than 53 additional staff across the judiciary, including attorneys, paralegals, mitigation specialists and administrative support; funding for 11 regional data coordinators; three FTEs to expand the remote court interpreter program; and one staff scientist for the Forensic Science Commission. The session also funded a courtroom for the 15th Court of Appeals and supported a forensic analyst apprentice program.

Why it matters: operations and backlog
Council data presenters said clearance rates improved broadly in 2024, but filings rose sharply in many categories. The new funding is intended to address capacity, technology modernization and state‑level data work. “We are very excited that the round of criminal data started flowing in about a week ago,” OCA staff reported about the Court Analytics Texas project, which will automate detailed case‑level reporting from local case‑management systems.

Ending
Council members asked staff to track implementation timelines and coordinate the rollout of technology projects with local clerks so county budgets and clerk workflows are aligned with state funding and reporting requirements.