Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB896 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 05/12/2023

                    88R27577 MZM-F
 By: Hughes, et al. S.B. No. 896
 (Leach)
 Substitute the following for S.B. No. 896:  No.


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the stay of proceedings pending an interlocutory appeal
 of a denial of a motion to dismiss in an action involving the
 exercise of certain constitutional rights.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 51.014, Civil Practice and Remedies
 Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections
 (c-1) and (c-2) to read as follows:
 (b)  An interlocutory appeal under Subsection (a), other
 than an appeal under Subsection (a)(4) or in a suit brought under
 the Family Code, stays the commencement of a trial in the trial
 court pending resolution of the appeal. An interlocutory appeal
 under Subsection (a)(3), (5), or (8)[, or (12)] also stays all other
 proceedings in the trial court pending resolution of that appeal.
 An interlocutory appeal under Subsection (a)(12) stays
 commencement of a trial and other proceedings in the trial court as
 provided by Subsection (c-1).
 (c-1)  A denial of a motion to dismiss described by
 Subsection (a)(12):
 (1)  stays commencement of a trial and other
 proceedings in the trial court until the 61st day after the date the
 order denying the motion is signed if the order denying the motion
 states the motion was:
 (A)  denied as not timely filed under Section
 27.003(b);
 (B)  denied because the action is exempt under a
 specified subdivision of Section 27.010(a); or
 (C)  determined to be frivolous or solely intended
 to delay under Section 27.009(b); or
 (2)  stays commencement of a trial and other
 proceedings in the trial court pending resolution of the appeal if
 the motion was denied for a reason not provided by Subdivision (1)
 or the order does not state a reason for denying the motion.
 (c-2)  For a denial of a motion to dismiss to which
 Subsection (c-1)(1) applies, the court of appeals in which the
 appeal from the order denying the motion to dismiss is filed may
 stay commencement of trial and other proceedings in the trial court
 on a determination that the appellant is likely to succeed on the
 merits or in the interest of justice.
 SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
 to the denial of a motion to dismiss ordered on or after the
 effective date of this Act. A denial of a motion to dismiss ordered
 before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law
 applicable to the denial immediately before the effective date of
 this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 Act takes effect September 1, 2023.