Educational Opportunities and Legislative Updates
This edition of Updates includes a special Constable’s Corner and training opportunities, including registration information for TJCTC’s upcoming Justice of the Peace Evictions Workshop this fall and the final webinar in a series of webinars from the Texas State Bar about legislative updates.
We also included some information about an exciting NCSC project that could be really helpful for rural courts.
NCSC Legal Deserts Problem-Solving Project
Is your county a legal desert (a rural area where there isn’t enough legal help for those who need it)? Your court may be the perfect candidate for this new NCSC project providing support and resources to partner courts to help solve problems related to the lack of legal resources.
Don’t wait, look at the website now, because the priority application deadline is November 3, 2025!
Constable’s Corner
TCOLE Training Requirement Reminder
In addition to the continuing basic requirements for a licensed peace officer, constables and their deputies require additional training each 4-year TCOLE cycle including training from LEMIT and TJCTC.
Constable-Specific
Newly Elected Constables:
Must complete Newly Elected Constable training (#3742 – does not include any
ALERRT training hours) thru LEMIT within 2 years of first appointment as Constable.
Constable Continuing Education:
Must complete Continuing Education for Constables (#3743) thru LEMIT each 4-
year training cycle thereafter. The course includes 8 hours of ALERRT training. You
will be required to complete an additional 8 hours of ALERRT training to meet the
16-hour legislative requirement.
Civil Process:
Must complete Civil Process (#1415) through the Justices of the Peace and
Constables of Texas (JPCA) from the Texas Justice Court Training Center (TJCTC)
at Texas State University each 4-year training cycle.
To see the full list of training required for peace officers, including constables and deputies, review THE BRIEFING from TCOLE that came out this October.
HB 5081 Confidential Information for Judges & Court Staff Online
HB 5081 amended the Government Code Chapter 92 to protect the information of “At-Risk Individuals” (which includes judges, clerks, and employees of courts) on public websites. The legislature passed this bill to help protect the privacy and safety of those that run our courts.
To learn more, read the bill online or review the slides on the TJCTC Legislative Updates Page.
Judges, Don’t Miss the Evictions Workshop this Fall!
This judge’s-only workshop will cover all of the new changes to the evictions laws as well as include interactive scenarios about how they will be implemented when they go into effect January 1, 2026.
November 12-14, 2025 via Zoom
Don’t worry, there will be additional workshops and classes for court personnel and constables next spring and summer.
Register Here: Justice of the Peace Virtual Evictions Workshop
State Bar Justice Court Section Webinar
Justice Court Section Legislative Update Part III: All Other Topics
Friday, November 7, 2025, Noon – 1:00 pm CDT
1 Hour MCLE Credit
This final webinar in the series will cover a variety of bills from the most recent legislative session, excluding SB 38 and SB 1333, which were covered in earlier sessions.
Presenter: Rebecca Glisan, TJCTC Director of Curriculum & Staff Attorney
This webinar is welcome to anyone who wants to join!
Note, this webinar is sponsored by the Texas State Bar Justice Court Section and is not an official TJCTC webinar.
