🟡Relating to bond requirements for certain judges.

🟡 SB 387: Raises Judge Protection, Leaves Families Exposed

What it says it does:
SB 387 increases the required bond amount for judges who handle guardianship and probate cases to ensure public trust in the court system.

What it actually changes:
It raises the bond to $500,000 for every county in Texas, regardless of population size. This shields judges from personal liability when estates lose money under their watch, shifting the financial responsibility to county governments.

Who is pushing for it:
The Statutory Probate Judges of Texas testified in favor, along with legal and probate associations that handle guardianship cases.

Who benefits:
Judges gain stronger legal and financial protection against lawsuits. Insurance and bonding providers benefit from larger premiums tied to the higher bond requirement.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Families under guardianship get no new protections, and smaller counties may face higher costs to maintain coverage. Taxpayers indirectly absorb these costs while oversight gaps remain unaddressed.

Why this matters long term:
This bill strengthens institutional protection for judges but does not fix weak guardianship oversight. It rebalances liability in favor of the judiciary and away from public accountability.

What to watch next:
Whether counties push back against the added financial burden, and whether lawmakers follow up with reforms to improve guardianship auditing and public transparency.

Bottom line:
SB 387 protects judges from risk but does little to protect the people who depend on them. It shifts costs downward, leaving oversight and accountability unchanged.

#SB387 #TexasPolicy #Judiciary #GuardianshipOversight #PublicAccountability #WatchTheRules