89R938 MZM-D
By: Johnson S.B. No. 1516
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the award of attorney's fees in an action involving the
exercise of certain constitutional rights.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 27.009(a), Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), if the court
orders dismissal of a legal action under this chapter, the court:
(1) shall award to the moving party court costs and
reasonable attorney's fees for [incurred in] defending against the
legal action; and
(2) may award to the moving party sanctions against
the party who brought the legal action as the court determines
sufficient to deter the party who brought the legal action from
bringing similar actions described in this chapter.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an action filed on or after the effective date of this Act. An
action filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by
the law as it existed immediately before that date, and that law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.