Bill > SB303

This bill modifies the existing Texas Government Code regarding the appointment of spoken language interpreters in court proceedings, specifically for counties with populations of 50,000 or more. Under the current law, courts could appoint a non-certified or non-licensed interpreter if the necessary language was not Spanish and no licensed court interpreter was available within 75 miles. The bill expands this provision to also allow non-certified or non-licensed interpreters to be appointed if the court is a justice court, municipal court, or municipal court of record, regardless of the language needed. This change provides additional flexibility for courts in appointing interpreters, particularly in smaller or more specialized court settings where finding a certified interpreter might be challenging. The bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, giving courts and legal administrators time to prepare for the new interpretation appointment guidelines.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB303