Relating to the referral of certain criminal proceedings in the Texas-Mexico border region to an associate judge and reimbursement requests for all or part of an associate judge's or interpreter's salary.

HB 1328 creates a process for judges in Texas border counties to refer certain criminal trespass cases (involving individuals not lawfully present in the U.S.) to associate judges serving in those counties. It allows border counties to request reimbursement from the Texas Judicial Council for associate judge and interpreter salaries related to these cases, using funds already designated for border security. The bill applies specifically to counties in the defined Texas-Mexico border region under Section 2056.002 of the Government Code. The reimbursement mechanism requires counties to submit requests to the Judicial Council, which may establish implementing rules. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.