89R26591 AMF-F

By: Hayes H.B. No. 5009

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 5009:

By: Landgraf C.S.H.B. No. 5009

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the collection or execution of certain judgments; authorizing fees.

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

SECTION 1. Section 31.002, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), (d-1), and (e-1) and amending Subsections (f) and (h) to read as follows:

(b-1) If a judgment creditor is unable to obtain satisfaction on the judgment of a justice court within six months from the date the judgment is signed, the creditor may submit an application for the appointment of a receiver under Subsection (b)(3) to the court. Upon receipt of the application, the court shall:

(1) grant the application; or

(2) set the application for a hearing.

(b-2) Notice of a hearing under Subsection (b-1)(2) must be served on all parties not later than the 14th day before the date of the hearing. The court shall appoint a receiver at the hearing unless the judgment debtor contests the application. The court is not required to appoint as receiver under this subsection the receiver proposed by the creditor.

(d-1) A justice court may charge a fee for a motion for the court's assistance under this section not to exceed $25.

(e-1) If an order entered under this section is for the enforcement of a child support obligation or a judgment for past due child support, any costs recoverable under this section, including the fee of a receiver appointed under Subsection (b)(3), may be enforced by any means available for the enforcement of the child support obligation or judgment for past due child support.

(f) A court may not enter or enforce an order under this section that requires the turnover of the sales proceeds of, or the disbursement of, property exempt under any statute, including Section 42.0021, Property Code. This subsection does not:

(1) apply to the enforcement of a child support obligation or a judgment for past due child support; or

(2) prohibit the turnover of nonexempt property subject to garnishment.

(h) A court may enter or enforce an order under this section that requires the turnover of nonexempt property without:

(1) identifying in the order the specific property subject to turnover; or

(2) requiring a judgment creditor to prove the existence of specific property subject to turnover.

SECTION 2. Sections 34.001(a) and (b), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) If a writ of execution is not issued or a receiver is not appointed under Section 31.002 within 10 years after the rendition of a judgment of a court of record or a justice court, the judgment is dormant and execution may not be issued on the judgment unless it is revived.

(b) If a writ of execution is issued or a receiver is appointed under Section 31.002 within 10 years after rendition of a judgment but a second writ is not issued or a receiver is not appointed within 10 years after issuance of the first writ or appointment of that receiver, the judgment becomes dormant. A second writ may be issued or receiver may be appointed at any time within 10 years after issuance of the first writ or receiver appointment.

SECTION 3. Section 31.002, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended by this Act, applies to the collection of any judgment, regardless of whether the judgment was entered before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 4. (a) Section 34.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a judgment that:

(1) is not dormant on the effective date of this Act; and

(2) was entered before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.

(b) A judgment that is dormant on the effective date of this Act is governed by the law applicable to the judgment immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.