SummaryTX House Bill 2559 adds retired justices of the peace, the comptroller of public accounts, or a former comptroller of public accounts to the list of individuals authorized to administer an oath.
AnalysisTexas law, as do the laws of most states, authorizes certain individuals to administer oaths and affirmations, including a Notary Public. It already allows current and retired municipal court judges and judges of courts of records to administer oaths and provide a certificate of fact. House Bill 2559 extends this authority to retired justices of the peace so that they have the same authority as other retired judges. The bill also authorizes the comptroller of public accounts or a former comptroller of public accounts to administer oaths. Interestingly, Government Code 6002.002 authorizes many former officials, such as a former secretary of state, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Representatives, legislator, and attorney general to administer oaths. Thus, authorizing retired justices of the peace and former comptrollers of public accounts is not as unusual as it appears.
Read House Bill 2559.