By: Huffines S.B. No. 409
(In the Senate - Filed January 3, 2017; February 1, 2017,
read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
April 3, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 1; April 3, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the jurisdiction of county and justice courts in civil
matters.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 26.042(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the
justice courts in civil cases in which the matter in controversy
exceeds $200 in value but does not exceed $20,000 [$10,000],
exclusive of interest.
SECTION 2. Section 27.031(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) In addition to the jurisdiction and powers provided by
the constitution and other law, the justice court has original
jurisdiction of:
(1) civil matters in which exclusive jurisdiction is
not in the district or county court and in which the amount in
controversy is not more than $20,000 [$10,000], exclusive of
interest;
(2) cases of forcible entry and detainer;
(3) foreclosure of mortgages and enforcement of liens
on personal property in cases in which the amount in controversy is
otherwise within the justice court's jurisdiction; and
(4) cases arising under Chapter 707, Transportation
Code, outside a municipality's territorial limits.
SECTION 3. This Act applies only to a cause of action filed
on or after the effective date of this Act. A cause of action filed
before that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before
that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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