bill rewriting the County Court at Law of Bowie County

The text as introduced · 397 words

89R5061 JTZ-D

By: VanDeaver
H.B. No. 1469

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the County Court at Law of Bowie County.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 25.0212, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a), (b), and (f) and adding Subsections (i)

and (j) to read as follows:

(a) In addition to the jurisdiction provided by Section

25.0003 and other law and except as limited by Subsection (b), a

county court at law in Bowie County has, concurrent with the

district court, the jurisdiction provided by the constitution and

by general law for district courts , including concurrent

jurisdiction in:

(1) specialty court programs;

(2) misdemeanor cases;

(3) family law cases and proceedings, including

juvenile matters; and

(4) probate and guardianship matters .

(b) A county court at law does not have jurisdiction of:

(1) felony criminal matters;

(2) suits on behalf of the state to recover penalties

or escheated property;

(3) misdemeanors involving official misconduct;

(4) contested elections; or

(5) civil cases in which the matter in controversy

exceeds the amount provided in Section 25.0003 [ $200,000 ],

excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties,

and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the

petition.

(f) The [ commissioners court may authorize the judge of a

county court at law to set the ] official court reporter of a county

court at law is entitled to compensation, fees, and allowances in

amounts equal to the amounts paid to the official court reporters

serving the district courts in Bowie County, including an annual

salary set by the judge of the county court at law and approved by

the commissioners court [ reporter's salary ].

(i) The jury in all civil or criminal matters is composed of

12 members, except in misdemeanor criminal cases and any other case

in which the court has concurrent jurisdiction with county courts

under Section 25.0003(a), the jury is composed of six members.

(j) In matters of concurrent jurisdiction, a judge of a

county court at law and a judge of a district court with

jurisdiction in Bowie County may transfer cases between the courts

in the same manner that judges of district courts may transfer cases

under Section 24.003.

SECTION 2. Section 25.0212(d), Government Code, is

repealed.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.