Relating to the jurisdiction of municipal courts over health and safety and nuisance abatement ordinances.
relating to the jurisdiction of municipal courts over health and
safety and nuisance abatement ordinances.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 29.003, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) The governing body of a municipality by ordinance may
provide that the court has:
(1) civil jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing
municipal ordinances enacted under Subchapter A, Chapter 214, Local
Government Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 683, Transportation Code;
(2) concurrent jurisdiction with a district court or a
county court at law under Subchapter B, Chapter 54, Local
Government Code, within the municipality’s territorial limits and
property owned by the municipality located in the municipality’s
extraterritorial jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing health
and safety and nuisance abatement ordinances; and
(3) authority to issue:
(A) search warrants for the purpose of
investigating a health and safety or nuisance abatement ordinance
violation; and
(B) seizure warrants for the purpose of securing,
removing, or demolishing the offending property and removing the
debris from the premises.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
