S.B. No. 987, introduced by Bettencourt and others, amends Section 571.171 of the Government Code to clarify the subject matter jurisdiction of criminal trial courts in Texas. The bill adds a new subsection (d), which states that the section does not require the exhaustion of civil, including administrative, remedies as a prerequisite for a trial court to have jurisdiction over a criminal action. This means that a trial court can exercise its jurisdiction over criminal cases without the need for parties to first pursue any civil remedies.

The provisions of this Act apply to criminal actions that are commenced before, on, or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. This change aims to streamline the process for criminal cases by removing the requirement for exhausting civil remedies, thereby allowing for more efficient handling of criminal matters in the courts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 571.171 (Government Code 571)
Senate Committee Report: Government Code 571.171 (Government Code 571)
Engrossed: Government Code 571.171 (Government Code 571)
House Committee Report: Government Code 571.171 (Government Code 571)