By: Hughes, Birdwell S.B. No. 1220
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the subject matter jurisdiction of the criminal trial
courts of this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 23, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 23.002 to read as follows:
Sec. 23.002. SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF CRIMINAL TRIAL
COURTS NOT CONDITIONED ON EXHAUSTION OF CIVIL REMEDIES. Unless
expressly provided otherwise, the exhaustion of civil, including
administrative, remedies is not a prerequisite to the vesting in a
trial court of subject matter jurisdiction over a criminal action
for which the trial court would otherwise have jurisdiction under
other law.
SECTION 2. This Act applies to a criminal action commenced
before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
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, 2025.