By: Schoolcraft H.B. No. 1317
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to authorizing the attorney general to petition the chief
justice of the supreme court to convene a special three-judge
district court in certain circumstances.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
Section 22A.001, Government Code, is amended by amending
Subsection (a) to read as follows:
Sec. 22A.001. ELIGIBLE PROCEEDINGS. (a) The attorney
general may petition the chief justice of the supreme court to
convene a special three-judge district court in any suit filed in a
district court in this state in which this state or a state officer
or agency is a defendant in a claim that:
(1) challenges the finances or operations of this
state's public school system, including a challenge to
accountability under Chapter 39, Subchapters C, D, and F, Education
Code; or
(2) involves the apportionment of districts for the
house of representatives, the senate, the State Board of Education,
or the United States Congress, or state judicial districts.
(b) A petition filed by the attorney general under this
section stays all proceedings in the district court in which the
original case was filed until the chief justice of the supreme court
acts on the petition.
(c) Within a reasonable time after receipt of a petition
from the attorney general under Subsection (a), the chief justice
of the supreme court shall grant the petition and issue an order
transferring the case to a special three-judge district court
convened as provided by Section 22A.002.
SECTION 8. 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, 2025.