SB 2025

This bill establishes a pilot project to provide for criminal magistrates in the 10 counties in which the criminal courts experience the highest judicial caseload, as determined by the comptroller of the treasury in the annual weighted caseload study. B y December 1, 2026, the administrative office of the courts must notify the legislative body of each of the 10 counties that are eligible to participate in the pilot project. CRIMINAL MAGISTRATE POSITION Upon being notified of eligibility, this bill authorizes the legislative body of an eligible county to, by ordinance, establish the position of criminal magistrate within the county. Following enactment of such an ordinance, but no sooner than January 1 , 2027, the judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction, excluding general session judges, may appoint the criminal magistrate, who serves at the pleasure of the majority of the judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction. Duties This bill provides that the criminal magistrate has all of the following duties:  Conduct arraignments  Conduct initial appearance hearings and set initial appearance bonds  Determine a defendant's indigency status  Accept entry of pleas of guilt for misdemeanors and Class D and Class E felonies  Issue search warrants and arrest warrants  Conduct preliminary hearings  Review and issue summary adjudication orders, if appropriate, for all collateral petitions for all misdemeanors and Class D and Class E felonies Term and Compensation This bill provides that the term of a criminal magistrate is four years. The criminal magistrate may be removed from office by majority vote of the judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction, excluding general session judges. The criminal magistra te must be compensated from the general fund of the county in an amount to be determined by the majority of the elected judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction, excluding general session judges, and subject to the approval of the legislative body. ON APRIL 21, 2026, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 2251 FOR SENATE BILL 2025, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2251, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 removes from a criminal magistrate's list of duties the duty to accept guilty pleas for Class D and Class E felonies. ON APRIL 22, 2026, THE HOUSE NON-CONCURRED IN SENATE AMENDMENT #1. ON APRIL 23, 2026, THE SENATE RECONSIDERED ITS ACTIONS ON SENATE AMENDMENT #1, WITHDREW SENATE AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2251.