The bill, S.B. No. 873, amends Section 571.171 of the Government Code to clarify the subject matter jurisdiction of criminal trial courts in Texas. It introduces a new subsection (d) that specifies that the exhaustion of civil, including administrative, remedies is not required before a trial court can assume jurisdiction over a criminal action. This change ensures that criminal cases can proceed without the necessity of resolving related civil matters first, thereby streamlining the judicial process for criminal actions.

The provisions of this bill apply to any criminal action that is initiated before, on, or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025. This broad applicability aims to enhance the efficiency of the criminal justice system by allowing trial courts to exercise their jurisdiction without delay caused by civil remedy requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 571.171 (Government Code 571)