HB2966 - Relating to the award of attorney's fees in an action involving the exercise of certain constitutional rights.

  89R938 MZM-D     By: Meyer H.B. No. 2966       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the award of attorney's fees in an action involving the   exercise of certain constitutional rights.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 27.009(a), Civil Practice and Remedies   Code, is amended to read as follows:          (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 for [ incurred in ] defending against the   legal action; and                (2)  may award to the moving party sanctions against   the party who brought the legal action as the court determines   sufficient to deter the party who brought the legal action from   bringing similar actions described in this chapter.          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to an action filed on or after the effective date of this Act.  An   action filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by   the law as it existed immediately before that date, and that law is   continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.