The Local Access to Courts Act of 2026 establishes College Station, Texas, and El Centro, California, as additional locations for holding federal district court sessions.
Michael McCaul
Representative
TX-10
The Local Access to Courts Act (LACA) of 2026 expands federal judicial accessibility by establishing new court locations in College Station, Texas, and El Centro, California. This legislation amends existing federal law to require the U.S. District Courts in these regions to hold sessions in these additional cities, reducing travel burdens for local residents and legal professionals.
Local Access to Courts Act of 2026: New Federal Court Locations Set for College Station and El Centro
The Local Access to Courts Act of 2026, or LACA, is a straightforward piece of legislation designed to bring the federal justice system closer to home for residents in parts of Texas and California. By amending Title 28 of the U.S. Code, the bill mandates the establishment of new permanent locations for federal court sessions. Specifically, Section 2 requires the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas to hold court in College Station, while Section 3 adds El Centro as an official site for the Southern District of California.
Bringing the Gavel Closer to Home
For anyone who has ever had to deal with federal legal matters—whether it’s a small business owner involved in a trademark dispute or a worker called for jury duty—location is everything. Currently, residents in the Brazos Valley often face a nearly 100-mile trek to Houston for federal proceedings. Similarly, those in the Imperial Valley frequently have to navigate the long drive to San Diego. By codifying College Station and El Centro as official court locations, the bill effectively cuts down on the 'justice tax' of travel time and gas money. It’s a practical fix for the logistical headache of a full day’s travel just to attend a hearing or file paperwork.
Efficiency in the Southern Districts
Beyond just saving on mileage, these new locations aim to balance the workload in two of the country’s busiest judicial regions. The Southern District of California, which handles a high volume of border-related cases, would gain a more localized presence in El Centro to manage its docket. In Texas, the addition of College Station acknowledges the rapid growth of the region, ensuring that the federal court system keeps pace with the population. While setting up these sessions involves some administrative heavy lifting, the clear language of the bill provides a direct roadmap for the judiciary to expand its footprint and make the legal process more accessible for the average citizen.