H.B. No. 36

	AN ACT
	relating to expedited proceedings in cases involving dangerously
	damaged or deteriorated or substandard buildings or improvements in
	certain municipalities.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 51.014(a), Civil Practice and Remedies
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A person may appeal from an interlocutory order of a
	district court, county court at law, statutory probate court, or
	county court that:
	(1)  appoints a receiver or trustee;
	(2)  overrules a motion to vacate an order that
	appoints a receiver or trustee;
	(3)  certifies or refuses to certify a class in a suit
	brought under Rule 42 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure;
	(4)  grants or refuses a temporary injunction or grants
	or overrules a motion to dissolve a temporary injunction as
	provided by Chapter 65;
	(5)  denies a motion for summary judgment that is based
	on an assertion of immunity by an individual who is an officer or
	employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state;
	(6)  denies a motion for summary judgment that is based
	in whole or in part upon a claim against or defense by a member of
	the electronic or print media, acting in such capacity, or a person
	whose communication appears in or is published by the electronic or
	print media, arising under the free speech or free press clause of
	the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or Article
	I, Section 8, of the Texas Constitution, or Chapter 73;
	(7)  grants or denies the special appearance of a
	defendant under Rule 120a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, except
	in a suit brought under the Family Code;
	(8)  grants or denies a plea to the jurisdiction by a
	governmental unit as that term is defined in Section 101.001;
	(9)  denies all or part of the relief sought by a motion
	under Section 74.351(b), except that an appeal may not be taken from
	an order granting an extension under Section 74.351;
	(10)  grants relief sought by a motion under Section
	74.351(l);
	(11)  denies a motion to dismiss filed under Section
	90.007;
	(12)  denies a motion to dismiss filed under Section
	27.003; [or]
	(13)  denies a motion for summary judgment filed by an
	electric utility regarding liability in a suit subject to Section
	75.0022; or
	(14)  denies a motion filed by a municipality with a
	population of 500,000 or more in an action filed under Section
	54.012(6) or 214.0012, Local Government Code.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Local Government Code,
	is amended by adding Section 54.0155 to read as follows:
	Sec. 54.0155.  EXPEDITED PROCEEDINGS FOR CERTAIN CIVIL
	ACTIONS.  (a)  A court shall expedite any proceeding, including an
	appeal in accordance with Subsection (b), related to a suit brought
	under this subchapter for the enforcement of an ordinance adopted
	by a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more relating to
	dangerously damaged or deteriorated structures or improvements as
	described by Section 54.012(6).
	(b)  An appeal of a suit described by Subsection (a) is
	governed by the procedures for accelerated appeals in civil cases
	under the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure.  The appellate court
	shall render its final order or judgment with the least possible
	delay.
	SECTION 3.  Section 214.001, Local Government Code, is
	amended by adding Subsection (s) to read as follows:
	(s)  A court shall expedite any proceeding, including an
	appeal in accordance with Section 214.0012, related to a
	substandard building determination under this section by a
	municipality with a population of 500,000 or more.
	SECTION 4.  Section 214.0012, Local Government Code, is
	amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
	(i)  An appeal under this section for an action in which a
	municipality with a population of 500,000 or more is a party is
	governed by the procedures for accelerated appeals in civil cases
	under the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. The district court
	shall render its final order or judgment with the least possible
	delay.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 36 was passed by the House on April
	16, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 121, Nays 12, 1 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 36 on May 24, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 102, Nays 38, 4
	present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 36 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 25, Nays
	6.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor