Texas Lawmakers Finally Pass Judge Pay Raise after Epic Pension Battle
Raise in remuneration for Texas judges, long overdue in more than 10 years, advances towards the governor's desk following the settlement of a pension dispute.
Things got heated in the Lone Star State during the 89th Legislature, as Texas lawmakers pulled an all-nighter to finally approve raising state judges' pay for the first time in over a decade. Senate Bill 293, sponsored by Sen. Joan Huffman, could have been a done deal earlier, but a dispute over how the move would impact lawmakers' pensions nearly tanked it.
In a 114-26 vote, the House championed the bill, raising the base salary for Texas state judges from a stagnant $140,000 to a respectable $175,000. The last adjustment to the pay scale came in 2013, making this raise all the more urgent.
Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, a vocal advocate for judicial pay raises throughout the session, praised the resolution in a statement. He acknowledged the neck-and-neck race the bill faced, as its prospects looked grim at times. But with some serious late-session grit from chairs Jeff Leach and Joan Huffman, along with an army of dedicated legislators, they pulled it off.
The almost-collapsed deal hinged on a controversial debate about the mortgage on legislators' pensions and judges' salaries. Until then, pensions for eligible lawmakers were based on judges' six-figure salaries, rather than their part-time $7,200 compensation.
The House eventually added language to the bill that would link the lawmaker pensions to the $140,000 salary. The Senate disagreed and removed the "unrelated" pension language, sending the bill reeling. It all culminated in an explosive argument between Rep. Jeff Leach and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
In a compromise, if Gov. Greg Abbott signs SB 293 into law, there will be a temporary increase in legislative pensions due to the judicial pay raise, but judicial salaries will no longer influence lawmakers' future pension increases starting September 2030. The Texas Ethics Commission will assess and propose pension adjustments beginning in 2030.
Rep. Jeff Leach is tickled pink about the deal, calling it a "historic" move that gives Texas judges a much-deserved pay increase and maintains the strength of the judiciary in the state. The bill raises judges' pay by 25%, but according to the Texas Judicial Compensation Commission, a 30% increase would have been even more fitting[1][2].
Texas is no stranger to shameful rankings, and being ranked second-to-last in the nation for judicial pay last year was certainly an embarrassment[3]. In a heartfelt letter to lawmakers, Blacklock highlighted this embarrassment amid the pension arguments, hoping it would serve as motivation to pass the bill.
On an accountability note, the bill also incorporates judicial oversight measures championed by Sen. Joan Huffman, such as classifying violations of state bail-setting rules and missed case clearance rate requirements as misconduct under the state Constitution[2].
Sit back, relax, and watch this whole Texas-sized drama unfurl. If you've got a tip, drop me an email at [email protected]. You can also find me on Twitter at @tosibamowo.
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Resources:
[1] Texas Tribune
[2] Austin American-Statesman
[3] Texas Public Radio
Texas legislators faced a significant political hurdle during the 89th Legislature when the proposed Senate Bill 293, which aimed to raise state judges' pay for the first time in over a decade, encountered controversy over its potential impact on lawmakers' pensions.
The compromise reached in the heated debate resulted in a temporary increase in legislative pensions due to the judicial pay raise, but starting September 2030, judges' salaries would no longer influence lawmakers' future pension increases. This scenario is subject to assessment and proposed pension adjustments by the Texas Ethics Commission in 2030.
