89R938 MZM-D
 
  By: Johnson S.B. No. 1516
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the award of attorney's fees in an action involving the
  exercise of certain constitutional rights.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 27.009(a), Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), if the court
  orders dismissal of a legal action under this chapter, the court:
               (1)  shall award to the moving party court costs and
  reasonable attorney's fees for [incurred in] defending against the
  legal action; and
               (2)  may award to the moving party sanctions against
  the party who brought the legal action as the court determines
  sufficient to deter the party who brought the legal action from
  bringing similar actions described in this chapter.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an action filed on or after the effective date of this Act.  An
  action filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by
  the law as it existed immediately before that date, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.