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House Bill 2536 |
House Author: Harless et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-15 |
Senate Sponsor: Whitmire et al. |
Previous law established that a Harris County civil court at law has exclusive jurisdiction in Harris County of eminent domain proceedings, both statutory and inverse, regardless of the amount in controversy. House Bill 2536 amends the Government Code to instead condition the exclusive jurisdiction on the amount in controversy in a statutory proceeding not exceeding $200,000 in civil cases. The bill authorizes a party initiating a condemnation proceeding in Harris County to file a petition with the district clerk when the amount in controversy exceeds $200,000 and establishes that the amount in controversy is the amount of the bona fide offer made by the entity with eminent domain authority to acquire the property from the property owner voluntarily.