Title CP, Civil Practice and Remedies Code

Sec. 22.023. PRIVILEGE. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, a judicial, legislative, administrative, or other body with the authority to issue a subpoena or other compulsory process may not compel a journalist to testify regarding or to produce or disclose in an …

Sec. 22.024. LIMITED DISCLOSURE GENERALLY. After notice and an opportunity to be heard, a court may compel a journalist, a journalist's employer, or a person with an independent contract with a journalist to testify regarding or to produce or disclose any information, document, o…

Sec. 22.025. NOTICE. An order to compel testimony, production, or disclosure to which a journalist has asserted a privilege under this subchapter may be issued only after timely notice to the journalist, the journalist's employer, or a person who has an independent contract with …

Sec. 22.026. PUBLICATION OF PRIVILEGED INFORMATION. Publication or dissemination by a news medium or communication service provider of information, documents, or items privileged under this subchapter is not a waiver of the journalist's privilege. Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R…

Sec. 22.027. NEWS MEDIA RECORDINGS. Extrinsic evidence of the authenticity of evidence as a condition precedent to the admissibility of the evidence in a civil proceeding is not required with respect to a recording that purports to be a broadcast by a radio or television station …

Sec. 23.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Religious organization" means an organization that meets the standards for qualification as a religious organization under Section 11.20, Tax Code. (2) "Religious holy day" means a day on which the tenets of a religious organization…

Sec. 23.002. RECESS. (a) If a juror in a civil action is required to appear at a court proceeding on a religious holy day observed by the juror, the court or the court's designee shall recess the civil action until the next day the court is in session after the conclusion of the …

Sec. 24.001. RECORDING PROHIBITED. A person may not use any device to produce or make an audio, visual, or audio-visual broadcast, recording, or photograph of a jury while the jury is deliberating. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 54, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Sec. 26.001. ADOPTION OF RULES BY SUPREME COURT. (a) The supreme court shall adopt rules to provide for the fair and efficient resolution of class actions. (b) The supreme court shall adopt rules under this chapter on or before December 31, 2003. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch…

Sec. 26.002. MANDATORY GUIDELINES. Rules adopted under Section 26.001 must comply with the mandatory guidelines established by this chapter. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

Sec. 26.003. ATTORNEY'S FEES. (a) If an award of attorney's fees is available under applicable substantive law, the rules adopted under this chapter must provide that the trial court shall use the Lodestar method to calculate the amount of attorney's fees to be awarded class coun…

Sec. 26.051. STATE AGENCY WITH EXCLUSIVE OR PRIMARY JURISDICTION. (a) Before hearing or deciding a motion to certify a class action, a trial court must hear and rule on all pending pleas to the jurisdiction asserting that an agency of this state has exclusive or primary jurisdict…

Sec. 27.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Communication" includes the making or submitting of a statement or document in any form or medium, including oral, visual, written, audiovisual, or electronic. (2) "Exercise of the right of association" means to join together to col…

Sec. 27.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to encourage and safeguard the constitutional rights of persons to petition, speak freely, associate freely, and otherwise participate in government to the maximum extent permitted by law and, at the same time, protect the righ…

Sec. 27.003. MOTION TO DISMISS. (a) If a legal action is based on or is in response to a party's exercise of the right of free speech, right to petition, or right of association or arises from any act of that party in furtherance of the party's communication or conduct described …

Sec. 27.004. HEARING. (a) A hearing on a motion under Section 27.003 must be set not later than the 60th day after the date of service of the motion unless the docket conditions of the court require a later hearing, upon a showing of good cause, or by agreement of the parties, bu…

Sec. 27.005. RULING. (a) The court must rule on a motion under Section 27.003 not later than the 30th day following the date the hearing on the motion concludes. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), on the motion of a party under Section 27.003, a court shall dismiss a legal…

Sec. 27.006. PROOF. (a) In determining whether a legal action is subject to or should be dismissed under this chapter, the court shall consider the pleadings, evidence a court could consider under Rule 166a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, and supporting and opposing affidavits s…

Sec. 27.007. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS. (a) If the court awards sanctions under Section 27.009(b), the court shall issue findings regarding whether the legal action was brought to deter or prevent the moving party from exercising constitutional rights and is brought for an improper pur…

Sec. 27.0075. EFFECT OF RULING. Neither the court's ruling on the motion nor the fact that it made such a ruling shall be admissible in evidence at any later stage of the case, and no burden of proof or degree of proof otherwise applicable shall be affected by the ruling. Added b…

Sec. 27.008. APPEAL. (a) If a court does not rule on a motion to dismiss under Section 27.003 in the time prescribed by Section 27.005, the motion is considered to have been denied by operation of law and the moving party may appeal. (b) An appellate court shall expedite an appea…

Sec. 27.009. DAMAGES AND COSTS. (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 incurred in defending against the legal action; …

Sec. 27.010. EXEMPTIONS. (a) This chapter does not apply to: (1) an enforcement action that is brought in the name of this state or a political subdivision of this state by the attorney general, a district attorney, a criminal district attorney, or a county attorney; (2) a legal …

Sec. 27.011. CONSTRUCTION. (a) This chapter does not abrogate or lessen any other defense, remedy, immunity, or privilege available under other constitutional, statutory, case, or common law or rule provisions. (b) This chapter shall be construed liberally to effectuate its purpo…

Sec. 28.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Defense contractor" means any entity that is engaged in the production, manufacturing, or provision of defense articles or defense services to the United States Department of Defense under the International Traffic in Arms Regulatio…

Sec. 28.002. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter applies only to a civil action regarding the activities of a defense contractor, regardless of whether the contractor is a party. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 223 (H.B. 2884), Sec. 1, eff. May 28, 2025.

Sec. 28.003. REQUIRED DISCLOSURES RELATED TO FUNDING OR FUNDING SOURCES. (a) In a civil action subject to this chapter, a claimant must disclose, as part of initial disclosures required under Rule 194, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure: (1) whether the claimant or the claimant's att…

Sec. 28.004. WITHHOLDING DISCLOSURE PROHIBITED. (a) A disclosure required by Section 28.003 may not be delayed, excluded, or withheld for any reason, including because of a claim the information is privileged or otherwise exempted from disclosure. (b) A court may not grant a moti…

Sec. 28.005. SANCTIONS. In addition to any other sanctions the court is permitted to impose under law, if a claimant fails to comply with this chapter, the court may: (1) stay the proceeding until the required disclosure is made; or (2) dismiss the action with prejudice on a find…

Sec. 30.001. INSTRUMENT TO WAIVE SERVICE OR CONFESS JUDGMENT. In an instrument executed before suit is brought, a person may not accept service and waive process, enter an appearance in open court, or confess a judgment. Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 959, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.

Sec. 30.002. EXPIRATION OF JUDGE'S TERM; DEATH OF JUDGE. (a) If a district or county judge's term of office expires before the adjournment of the court term at which a case may be tried or during the period prescribed for filing a statement of facts and a bill of exceptions or fi…

Sec. 30.003. LEGISLATIVE CONTINUANCE. (a) This section applies to any criminal or civil suit, including matters of probate, and to any matters ancillary to the suit that require action by or the attendance of an attorney, including appeals but excluding temporary restraining orde…

Sec. 30.0035. PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS DURING LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDING PROHIBITED. A person may not serve citation or other civil process in person on a member, officer, or employee of the senate or house of representatives during any legislative proceeding. A court shall quash …

Sec. 30.004. NOTICE TO ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CERTAIN SUITS. (a) This section applies to a civil case in which: (1) the state is named as a party; (2) an agency in the executive or legislative department is named as a party; or (3) a party may be represented by the attorney general…

Sec. 30.005. RELIGIOUS HOLY DAY. (a) In this section: (1) "Religious organization" means an organization that meets the standards for qualifying as a religious organization under Section 11.20, Tax Code. (2) "Religious holy day" means a day on which the tenets of a religious orga…

Sec. 30.006. CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RECORDS NOT SUBJECT TO DISCOVERY. (a) In this section, "law enforcement agency" means a governmental agency that employs a peace officer as defined by Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure. (b) This section does not apply to an act…

Sec. 30.007. PRODUCTION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION RECORDS. Civil discovery of a customer record maintained by a financial institution is governed by Section 59.006, Finance Code. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 914, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., c…

Sec. 30.008. DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL IN JUSTICE COURT; FAILURE TO APPEAR. (a) A justice court may order a party who demands a jury trial in a justice court and who fails to appear for the trial to pay the costs incurred for impaneling the jury. (b) The justice court may release a p…

Sec. 30.009. MISTRIAL IN JUSTICE COURT OR MUNICIPAL COURT. If a jury in a trial in a justice court or a municipal court is discharged without having rendered a verdict, the cause may be tried again as soon as practicable. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1005, Sec. 2, eff. Sept…

Sec. 30.010. PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION PRIVILEGED FROM DISCOVERY BY INMATE OR COMMITTED PERSON. (a) Personal identifying information pertaining to an individual, including the individual's home address, home telephone number, and social security account number, is privileg…

Sec. 30.011. ELECTRONIC SUBPOENA APPLICATION. In addition to any other procedure permitted under state law or by court rule, an application for issuance of a subpoena may be made by electronic means. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 614, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 1999.

Sec. 30.012. USE OF COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS. (a) With the agreement of the parties, and subject to Subsection (b), a trial judge may order that a hearing of a preliminary matter or witness testimony at trial may be conducted by electronic means, including s…

Sec. 30.013. CONFIDENTIAL IDENTITY IN ACTIONS INVOLVING SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR. (a) In this section: (1) "Confidential identity" means: (A) the use of a pseudonym; and (B) the absence of any other identifying information, including address, telephone number, and social security …

Sec. 30.014. PLEADINGS MUST CONTAIN PARTIAL IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION. (a) In a civil action, including a probate or guardianship proceeding, filed in a district court, a county court, a statutory county court, a statutory probate court, or the business court, each party or the …

Sec. 30.015. PROVISION OF CURRENT ADDRESS OF PARTY IN CIVIL ACTION. (a) In a civil action filed in a district court, a county court, a statutory county court, a statutory probate court, or the business court, each party or the party's attorney must provide the clerk of the court …

Sec. 30.016. RECUSAL OR DISQUALIFICATION OF CERTAIN JUDGES. (a) In this section, "tertiary recusal motion" means a third or subsequent motion for recusal or disqualification filed against a district court, statutory county court, or business court judge by the same party in a cas…