Tex. Government Code § 54B.033: PROCEEDINGS THAT MAY BE REFERRED.

(a) A judge may refer to a criminal associate judge any criminal case or matter relating to a criminal case for proceedings involving:

(1) a negotiated plea of guilty or no contest and sentencing before the court;

(2) a bond forfeiture, remittitur, and related proceedings;

(3) a pretrial motion;

(4) a writ of habeas corpus;

(5) an examining trial;

(6) an occupational driver's license;

(7) a petition for an order of expunction under Chapter 55A, Code of Criminal Procedure;

(8) an asset forfeiture hearing as provided by Chapter 59, Code of Criminal Procedure;

(9) a petition for an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information or an order of nondisclosure of criminal history record information that does not require a petition provided by Subchapter E-1, Chapter 411;

(10) a motion to modify or revoke community supervision or to proceed with an adjudication of guilty;

(11) setting conditions, modifying, revoking, and surrendering of bonds, including surety bonds;

(12) specialty court proceedings;

(13) a waiver of extradition; and

(14) any other matter the judge considers necessary and proper.

(b) A judge may refer to a criminal associate judge a civil case arising out of Chapter 59, Code of Criminal Procedure, for any purpose authorized by that chapter, including issuing orders, accepting agreed judgments, enforcing judgments, and presiding over a case on the merits if a party has not requested a jury trial.

(c) A criminal associate judge may accept a plea of guilty from a defendant charged with misdemeanor, felony, or both misdemeanor and felony offenses.

(d) A criminal associate judge may select a jury. A criminal associate judge may not preside over a criminal trial on the merits, whether or not the trial is before a jury.

(e) A criminal associate judge may not hear a jury trial on the merits of a bond forfeiture.

(f) A judge of a designated juvenile court may refer to a criminal associate judge any proceeding over which a juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction under Title 3, Family Code, including any matter ancillary to the proceeding.

Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16), Sec. 5.03, eff. December 4, 2025.