Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1996 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R15762 AMF-D
2	2	By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1996
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the amount in controversy in the jurisdiction of
10	10	statutory county courts.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Section 22.004(h-1), Government Code, is amended
13	13	to read as follows:
14	14	(h-1) In addition to the rules adopted under Subsection (h),
15	15	the supreme court shall adopt rules to promote the prompt,
16	16	efficient, and cost-effective resolution of civil actions filed in
17	17	county courts at law in which the amount in controversy does not
18	18	exceed $325,000 [$250,000]. The rules shall balance the need for
19	19	lowering discovery costs in these actions against the complexity of
20	20	and discovery needs in these actions. The supreme court may not
21	21	adopt rules under this subsection that conflict with other
22	22	statutory law.
23	23	SECTION 2. Section 25.0003(c), Government Code, is amended
24	24	to read as follows:
25	25	(c) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, a
26	26	statutory county court exercising civil jurisdiction concurrent
27	27	with the constitutional jurisdiction of the county court has
28	28	concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in:
29	29	(1) civil cases in which the matter in controversy
30	30	exceeds $500 but does not exceed $325,000 [$250,000], excluding
31	31	interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and
32	32	attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the petition;
33	33	and
34	34	(2) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the
35	35	division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of
36	36	Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims, regardless of
37	37	the amount in controversy.
38	38	SECTION 3. Section 25.0007(c), Government Code, is amended
39	39	to read as follows:
40	40	(c) In a civil case pending in a statutory county court in
41	41	which the matter in controversy exceeds $325,000 [$250,000], the
42	42	jury shall be composed of 12 members unless all of the parties agree
43	43	to a jury composed of a lesser number of jurors.
44	44	SECTION 4. Section 25.0062(b), Government Code, is amended
45	45	to read as follows:
46	46	(b) The district clerk serves as clerk of a county court at
47	47	law in felony cases, in family law cases and proceedings, and in
48	48	civil cases in which the matter in controversy exceeds $325,000
49	49	[$250,000]. The county clerk serves as clerk of a county court at
50	50	law in all other cases. The district clerk shall establish a
51	51	separate docket for a county court at law. The commissioners court
52	52	shall provide the deputy clerks, bailiffs, and other personnel
53	53	necessary to operate a county court at law.
54	54	SECTION 5. Sections 25.0003(c), 25.0007(c), and
55	55	25.0062(b), Government Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a
56	56	civil case filed in a statutory county court on or after the
57	57	effective date of this Act. A civil case filed in a statutory
58	58	county court before the effective date of this Act is governed by
59	59	the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act,
60	60	and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
61	61	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.