87R12509 CAE-D
 
  By: Miles S.B. No. 1638
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the jurisdiction of justice courts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 27.031(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  In addition to the jurisdiction and powers provided by
  the constitution and other law, the justice court has original
  jurisdiction of:
               (1)  civil matters in which exclusive jurisdiction is
  not in the district or county court and in which the amount in
  controversy is not more than $20,000, exclusive of interest;
               (2)  cases of forcible entry and detainer; [and]
               (3)  foreclosure of mortgages and enforcement of liens
  on personal property in cases in which the amount in controversy is
  otherwise within the justice court's jurisdiction; and
               (4)  offenses under the laws of this state relating to
  fraudulent conveyance of interests in real property.
         SECTION 2.  Section 27.031(a), Government Code, as amended
  by this Act, applies only to a cause of action filed on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A cause of action filed before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
  immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.