House Bill No. 2661 amends the Government Code to expand the jurisdiction of the County Court at Law in Atascosa County. The bill adds concurrent jurisdiction with the district court for appeals from justice and municipal courts, as well as civil cases where the matter in controversy exceeds the maximum amount provided by Section 25.0003 but does not exceed $1 million. This includes various types of civil suits, such as those concerning title to property, enforcement of liens, and recovery of real property. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision that allows judges of the county court at law to be assigned to any district court in Atascosa County, enabling them to hear matters pending in those courts.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the compensation structure for the judge of the county court at law, specifying that their salary will be determined as provided by Section 25.0005, rather than being set by the commissioners court at a specified amount less than that of a district judge. The changes outlined in the bill will apply only to cases filed or proceedings commenced on or after its effective date, with prior cases governed by the law in effect at the time they were filed. The act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 25.0092 (Government Code 25)