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House Bill 19 |
House Author: Murr et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-23 |
Senate Sponsor: Hughes et al. |
House Bill 19 amends the Government Code to create the business court as a statutory court under the constitution on September 1, 2024, subject to legislative appropriation. The judicial district of the business court is composed of all counties in Texas, and the court's divisions correspond to the state's 11 administrative judicial regions. The business court has the powers provided by statute relating to district courts, including the power to issue writs of injunction, mandamus, sequestration, attachment, garnishment, and supersedeas, and to grant any relief that may be granted by a district court. The bill provides for the business court's jurisdiction concurrent with district courts over specified actions in which the amount in controversy exceeds certain minimum amounts, except that the business court has jurisdiction concurrent with district courts over such actions regardless of the amount in controversy if a party to the action is a publicly traded company. The bill establishes that the business court has supplemental jurisdiction over any other claim related to a case or controversy within the court's jurisdiction that forms part of the same case or controversy, except as specified by the bill. Among other provisions, the bill provides for the following with respect to the administration and operation of the business court:
· the filing, transfer, and remand of court actions;
· qualifications, appointment, salary, and removal of court judges;
· jury practice and procedure;
· court proceedings, location, and staff requirements;
· fees for filings and actions;
· the court's administrative attachment to the Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System; and
· the appeal of court actions.