By:  Zaffirini                                                            S.B. No. 82



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the priority given to the hearing by trial courts of 
certain ad valorem tax matters.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 23.101(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  The trial courts of this state shall regularly and 
frequently set hearings and trials of pending matters, giving 
preference to hearings and trials of the following:
		(1)  temporary injunctions;                                                   
		(2)  criminal actions, with the following actions given 
preference over other criminal actions:
			(A)  criminal actions against defendants who are 
detained in jail pending trial;
			(B)  criminal actions involving a charge that a 
person committed an act of family violence, as defined by Section 
71.004 [71.01], Family Code; and
			(C)  an offense under:                                                       
				(i)  Section 21.11, Penal Code;                                             
				(ii)  Chapter 22, Penal Code, if the victim 
of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age;
				(iii) Section 25.02, Penal Code, if the 
victim of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age;  or
				(iv)  Section 25.06, Penal Code;                                            
		(3)  election contests and suits under the Election 
Code;                   
		(4)  orders for the protection of the family under 
Section 6.504, 85.005, 85.021, or 85.022 [3.581, 71.11, or 71.12], 
Family Code;
		(5)  appeals of final rulings and decisions of the 
Texas Workers' Compensation Commission and claims under the Federal 
Employers' Liability Act and the Jones Act; [and]
		(6)  appeals of final orders of the commissioner of the 
General Land Office under Section 51.3021, Natural Resources Code; 
and
		(7)  appeals of appraisal review board orders brought 
under Section 42.01 or 42.015, Tax Code.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.