S.B. No. 2342
AN ACT
relating to the jurisdiction of, and practices and procedures in
civil cases before, justice courts, county courts, statutory county
courts, and district courts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 22.004, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (h) and adding Subsection (h-1) to read as
follows:
(h) The supreme court shall adopt rules to promote the
prompt, efficient, and cost-effective resolution of civil actions.
The rules shall apply to civil actions in district courts, county
courts at law, and statutory probate courts in which the amount in
controversy, inclusive of all claims for damages of any kind,
whether actual or exemplary, a penalty, attorney's fees, expenses,
costs, interest, or any other type of damage of any kind, does not
exceed $100,000. The rules shall address the need for lowering
discovery costs in these actions and the procedure for ensuring
that these actions will be expedited in the civil justice system.
The supreme court may not adopt rules under this subsection that
conflict with other statutory law [a provision of:
[(1) Chapter 74, Civil Practice and Remedies Code;
[(2) the Family Code;
[(3) the Property Code; or
[(4) the Tax Code].
(h-1) In addition to the rules adopted under Subsection (h),
the supreme court shall adopt rules to promote the prompt,
efficient, and cost-effective resolution of civil actions filed in
county courts at law in which the amount in controversy does not
exceed $250,000. The rules shall balance the need for lowering
discovery costs in these actions against the complexity of and
discovery needs in these actions. The supreme court may not adopt
rules under this subsection that conflict with other statutory law.
SECTION 2. Section 25.0003(c), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(c) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, a
statutory county court exercising civil jurisdiction concurrent
with the constitutional jurisdiction of the county court has
concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in:
(1) civil cases in which the matter in controversy
exceeds $500 but does not exceed $250,000 [$200,000], excluding
interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and
attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the petition;
and
(2) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the
division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of
Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims, regardless of
the amount in controversy.
SECTION 3. Section 25.0007, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(b) Practice in a statutory county court is that prescribed
by law for county courts, except that practice, procedure, rules of
evidence, issuance of process and writs, the drawing of jury
panels, the selection of jurors, and all other matters pertaining
to the conduct of trials and hearings in the statutory county
courts[, other than the number of jurors,] that involve those
matters of concurrent jurisdiction with district courts are
governed by the laws and rules pertaining to the district courts in
the county in which the statutory county court is located. This
section does not affect local rules of administration adopted under
Section 74.093.
(c) In a civil case pending in a statutory county court in
which the matter in controversy exceeds $250,000, the jury shall be
composed of 12 members unless all of the parties agree to a jury
composed of a lesser number of jurors.
SECTION 4. Section 25.0052(a), Government Code, as amended
by Chapters 614 (S.B. 1428) and 746 (H.B. 66), Acts of the 72nd
Legislature, Regular Session, 1991, is reenacted and amended to
read as follows:
(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Angelina County has:
(1) concurrent with the county court, the probate
jurisdiction provided by general law for county courts; and
(2) concurrent jurisdiction with the district court
in[:
[(A) civil cases in which the matter in
controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $50,000, excluding
interest; and
[(B)] family law cases and proceedings.
SECTION 5. Section 25.0102(h), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(h) If a family law case or proceeding is tried before a
jury, the jury shall be composed of 12 members; in all other cases
the jury shall be composed of six members except as provided by the
constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law.
SECTION 6. Section 25.0202(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Bosque County has
concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in:
(1) family law cases and proceedings; and
(2) [civil cases in which the matter in controversy
exceeds $500 but does not exceed $200,000, excluding interest,
court costs, and attorney's fees; and
[(3)] contested probate matters under Section 32.003,
Estates Code.
SECTION 7. Section 25.0222(m), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(m) When a jury trial is requested in a case of concurrent
jurisdiction between the district courts and statutory county
courts, and the case was instituted in district court, the jury
shall be composed of 12 members. In all other cases in which a jury
trial is requested in the statutory county courts the jury shall be
composed of six jurors except as provided by the constitution,
Section 25.0007(c), or other law.
SECTION 8. Section 25.0362(f), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(f) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a jury
in a county court at law shall be composed of six members except as
provided by [unless] the constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other
law [requires a 12-member jury]. Failure to object before a
six-member jury is seated and sworn constitutes a waiver of a
12-member jury. In matters in which the constitution or other law
does not require a 12-member jury and the county court at law has
concurrent jurisdiction with the district court, the jury may be
composed of 12 members if a party to the suit requests a 12-member
jury [and the judge of the court consents]. In a civil case tried
in a county court at law, the parties may, by mutual agreement [and
with the consent of the judge], agree to try the case with any
number of jurors and have a verdict rendered and returned by the
vote of any number of those jurors that is less than the total
number of jurors.
SECTION 9. Section 25.0722(i), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(i) If a family law case or proceeding is tried before a
jury, the jury shall be composed of 12 members. In all other cases
the jury shall be composed of six members except as provided by the
constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law.
SECTION 10. Section 25.0812(k), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(k) If a jury trial is requested in a case of concurrent
jurisdiction between the district courts and the county courts at
law, and the case was instituted in the district court, the jury
shall be composed of 12 members. In all other cases in which a jury
trial is requested in the county courts at law, the jury shall be
composed of six members except as provided by the constitution,
Section 25.0007(c), or other law.
SECTION 11. Section 25.0862(n), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(n) If a jury trial is requested in a case that is in a
county court at law's jurisdiction as provided by Subsection (a),
the jury shall be composed of six members unless the constitution,
Section 25.0007(c), or other law requires a 12-member jury.
Failure to object before a six-member jury is seated and sworn
constitutes a waiver of a 12-member jury.
SECTION 12. Section 25.0942(l), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(l) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a jury
in a county court at law shall be composed of six members, unless
the constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law requires a
12-member jury. Failure to object before a six-member jury is
seated and sworn constitutes a waiver of a 12-member jury. In
matters in which the constitution or other law does not require a
12-member jury and the county court at law has concurrent
jurisdiction with the district court, the jury shall be composed of
12 members if a party to the suit requests a 12-member jury. In a
civil case tried in a county court at law, the parties may, by
mutual agreement [and with the consent of the judge], agree to try
the case with any number of jurors and have a verdict rendered and
returned by the vote of any number of those jurors that is less than
the total number of jurors.
SECTION 13. Section 25.1042(h), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(h) A jury must be composed of 12 members in[:
[(1) any civil case pending in which the amount in
controversy is $200,000 or more; and
[(2)] any felony case.
SECTION 14. Sections 25.1132(c) and (o), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(c) A county court at law in Hood County has concurrent
jurisdiction with the district court in:
(1) [civil cases in which the matter in controversy
exceeds $500 but does not exceed $250,000, excluding interest;
[(2)] family law cases and related proceedings;
(2) [(3)] contested probate matters under Section
32.003(a), Estates Code; and
(3) [(4)] contested matters in guardianship
proceedings under Section 1022.003(a), Estates Code.
(o) If a family law case or proceeding is tried before a jury
in a county court at law, the jury shall be composed of 12 members.
In all other cases, the jury shall be composed of six members except
as provided by the constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law.
SECTION 15. Section 25.1142(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) A county court at law does not have jurisdiction of:
(1) [civil cases in which the amount in controversy
exceeds $200,000, excluding interest;
[(2)] felony jury trials;
(2) [(3)] suits on behalf of the state to recover
penalties or escheated property;
(3) [(4)] misdemeanors involving official misconduct;
or
(4) [(5)] contested elections.
SECTION 16. Sections 25.1252(j) and (m), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(j) If a family law case or proceeding is tried before a jury
in a county court at law, the jury shall be composed of 12 members.
In all other cases, the jury shall be composed of six members except
as provided by the constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law
[A county court at law may exercise the jurisdiction vested in the
district court for the drawing, selection, and service of jurors. A
panel not exceeding 24 jurors shall be drawn for any one week of a
court, and the juries selected may not exceed six].
(m) Section [Sections] 25.0006 does [and 25.0007 do] not
apply to the county courts at law of Jefferson County.
SECTION 17. Sections 25.1272(b) and (h), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(b) A county court at law in Jim Wells County has concurrent
jurisdiction with the district court in:
(1) [civil cases in which the matter in controversy
exceeds $500 but does not exceed $200,000, excluding interest;
[(2)] family law cases and proceedings;
(2) [(3)] Class A and Class B misdemeanors;
(3) [(4)] juvenile cases; and
(4) [(5)] appeals from justice and municipal courts.
(h) If a jury trial is requested in a case that is in a
county court at law's jurisdiction, the jury shall be composed of
six members unless the constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other
law requires a 12-member jury. Failure to object before a
six-member jury is seated and sworn constitutes a waiver of a
12-member jury.
SECTION 18. Sections 25.1412(a) and (p), Government Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Lamar County has:
(1) concurrent jurisdiction with the district court
in:
(A) probate matters and proceedings, including
will contests;
(B) family law cases and proceedings, including
juvenile cases; and
(C) felony cases to conduct arraignments and
pretrial hearings and to accept guilty pleas; and
[(D) civil cases in which the amount in
controversy does not exceed $200,000, excluding interest; and]
(2) concurrent jurisdiction with the county and
district courts over all suits arising under the Family Code.
(p) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a jury
in a county court at law shall be composed of six members unless the
constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law requires a 12-member
jury. Failure to object before a six-member jury is seated and
sworn constitutes a waiver of a 12-member jury. In matters in
which the constitution or other law does not require a 12-member
jury and the county court at law has concurrent jurisdiction with
the district court, the jury may be composed of 12 members if a
party to the suit requests a 12-member jury and the judge of the
court consents. In a civil case tried in a county court at law, the
parties may, by mutual agreement [and with the consent of the
judge], agree to try the case with any number of jurors and have a
verdict rendered and returned by the vote of any number of those
jurors that is less than the total number of jurors.
SECTION 19. Section 25.1722(f), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(f) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the
constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law, juries in a county
court at law shall be composed of six members. Juries in family law
cases and proceedings shall be composed of 12 members, unless the
parties agree to a six-member jury.
SECTION 20. Section 25.1732(l), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(l) A jury in a county court at law is composed of six
persons unless the constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law
requires a 12-member jury.
SECTION 21. Section 25.1802(o), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(o) If a jury trial is requested in a case that is in a
county court at law's jurisdiction, the jury shall be composed of
six members unless the constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other
law requires a 12-member jury. Failure to object before a
six-member jury is seated and sworn constitutes a waiver of a
12-member jury.
SECTION 22. Section 25.1862(k), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(k) If a jury trial is requested in a case that is in a
county court at law's jurisdiction as provided by Subsection (a),
the jury shall be composed of six members unless the constitution,
Section 25.0007(c), or other law requires a 12-member jury.
Failure to object before a six-member jury is seated and sworn
constitutes a waiver of a 12-member jury.
SECTION 23. Section 25.2142(v), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(v) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the
constitution, Section 25.0007(c), or other law, juries in a county
court at law shall be composed of six members. In matters of
concurrent jurisdiction with the district court to which Section
25.0007(c) does not apply, if a party to the suit requests a
12-member jury, the jury shall be composed of 12 members. In a
civil case tried in a county court at law, the parties may, by
mutual agreement [and with the consent of the judge], agree to try
the case with any number of jurors and agree to have a verdict
rendered and returned by the vote of any number of jurors less than
all those hearing the case.
SECTION 24. Section 25.2232(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Taylor County has[:
[(1)] concurrent jurisdiction with the county court in
the trial of cases involving insanity and approval of applications
for admission to state hospitals and special schools if admission
is by application[; and
[(2) concurrent jurisdiction with the district court
in civil cases in which the matter in controversy exceeds $500 but
does not exceed $200,000, excluding interest].
SECTION 25. Section 25.2292(d), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(d) In civil cases, the jury is composed of six members
except as otherwise provided by the constitution, Section
25.0007(c), or other law. Failure to object before a six-member
jury is seated and sworn constitutes a waiver of a 12-member jury
[unless:
[(1) the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000; and
[(2) a party to the case files a written request for a
12-member jury not later than the 30th day before the date of the
trial].
SECTION 26. Section 25.2362(i), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(i) If a jury trial is requested in a case that is in a
county court at law's jurisdiction, the jury shall be composed of
six members unless the constitution or other law requires a
12-member jury.
SECTION 27. Section 25.2412(j), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(j) If a case or proceeding in which a county court at law
has concurrent jurisdiction with a district court is tried before a
jury, the jury shall be composed of 12 members, except as provided
by Section 25.0007(c). In all other cases, the jury shall be
composed of six members except as provided by the constitution or
other law.
SECTION 28. Section 25.2462(k), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(k) A jury in a county court at law shall be composed of six
members except as provided by the constitution, Section 25.0007(c),
or other law.
SECTION 29. Section 25.2482(l), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(l) A jury in a county court at law shall be composed of six
members except as provided by the constitution, Section 25.0007(c),
or other law.
SECTION 30. Section 25.2512(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section
25.0003 and other law, a county court at law in Wise County has:
(1) concurrent with the county court, the probate
jurisdiction provided by general law for county courts; and
(2) concurrent jurisdiction with the district court
in:
(A) eminent domain cases; and
(B) [civil cases in which the amount in
controversy exceeds $500, but does not exceed $200,000, excluding
interest and attorney's fees; and
[(C)] family law cases and proceedings.
SECTION 31. 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 32. 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 33. Section 62.301, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 62.301. NUMBER OF JURORS. The jury in the county
courts and in the justice courts is composed of six persons except
as provided by the constitution or other law.
SECTION 34. The following provisions of the Government Code
are repealed:
(1) Section 25.0007(a);
(2) Section 25.1092(p);
(3) Sections 25.2292(a) and (m); and
(4) Section 25.2392(i).
SECTION 35. Not later than January 1, 2021, the Supreme
Court of Texas shall adopt rules as necessary to implement Section
22.004(h-1), Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 36. 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 37. This Act takes effect September 1, 2020.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2342 passed the Senate on
April 17, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3;
May 23, 2019, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 23, 2019, House
granted request of the Senate; May 26, 2019, Senate adopted
Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31,
Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2342 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 17, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 124,
Nays 22, one present not voting; May 23, 2019, House granted
request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
May 26, 2019, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
following vote: Yeas 91, Nays 48, three present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor