1. (a) In addition to any other qualification required by law, to be eligible for appointment as a master, magistrate, referee, associate judge, or hearing officer under this chapter, a person must:

   1. (1) be a resident of this state and of the county in which they are appointed;
   2. (2) except as provided by Subsection (b), have been licensed to practice law in this state and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas for at least five years;
   3. (3) not have been defeated for reelection to a judicial office in the election immediately preceding the person's appointment;
   4. (4) not have been removed from office by impeachment, the supreme court, the governor on address to the legislature, a tribunal reviewing a recommendation of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, or the legislature's abolition of the judge's court; and
   5. (5) not have resigned from office after having received notice the State Commission on Judicial Conduct had instituted formal proceedings as provided by Section 33.022 and before the final disposition of the proceedings.

2. (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2), to be eligible for appointment as a master, magistrate, referee, associate judge, or hearing officer under the following provisions of this chapter, a person must have been licensed to practice law in this state and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas for at least two years:

   1. (1) Section 54.991;
   2. (2) Section 54.1231;
   3. (3) Section 54.1501;
   4. (4) Section 54.1851;
   5. (5) Section 54.2001;
   6. (6) Section 54.2301; or
   7. (7) Section 54.2802.

Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 305 (S.B. 664), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.