Highlights of the 76th Texas Legislature - Senate

______________________ JURISPRUDENCE
SUMMARY JUDGEMENT PROCEEDINGS - H.B. 2186
by Representative Dutton
Senate Sponsor: Senator Ellis
The purpose of a summary judgment proceeding is to provide for the disposition of
controversies that do not present fact issues, but present only questions of law. Under the
Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment is appropriate if a movant establishes
that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that the movant is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. H.B. 2186 establishes conditions regarding summary
judgments issued by a court.
TELECONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY BY APPELLATE COURTS - H.B. 3418
by Representative Gallego
Senate Sponsor: Senator Harris
Strikes provisions requiring consent of the parties or their attorneys if the chief justice or
presiding judge or the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, or a court of appeals
decides to hear oral argument through the use of teleconferencing technology.
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Provides that the actual and necessary expenses of an appellate court hearing an oral
argument through the use of teleconferencing technology following the transfer of the
case to that appellate court from another shall be paid by the state from funds
appropriated for the actual and necessary traveling and living expenses of the justices
arising from the transfer of cases.
WAGE WITHHOLDING FOR ALIMONY - H.J.R. 16
by Representatives Thompson and Hill
Senate Sponsor: Senator Harris
Prior to 1995, child support was the only type of family support that could be ordered in
Texas and the only type of family support for which wages could be garnished. The 1995
welfare reform bill included a provision for limited alimony in an attempt to keep a
spouse with limited job skills and financial resources off government assistance.
However, alimony has been difficult to enforce without a garnishment provision.
This bill requires the submission to the voters of a constitutional amendment allowing a
person’s wages to be garnished to pay court-ordered alimony.
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Senate Research Center 231 76 th Legislature