S.B. No. 57

	AN ACT
	relating to the priority given to the hearing by trial courts of
	certain ad valorem tax matters.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 23.101, Government Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The trial courts of this state shall regularly and
	frequently set hearings and trials of pending matters, giving
	preference to hearings and trials of the following:
	(1)  temporary injunctions;
	(2)  criminal actions, with the following actions given
	preference over other criminal actions:
	(A)  criminal actions against defendants who are
	detained in jail pending trial;
	(B)  criminal actions involving a charge that a
	person committed an act of family violence, as defined by Section
	71.004, Family Code; and
	(C)  an offense under:
	(i)  Section 21.11, Penal Code;
	(ii)  Chapter 22, Penal Code, if the victim
	of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age;
	(iii)  Section 25.02, Penal Code, if the
	victim of the alleged offense is younger than 17 years of age; or
	(iv)  Section 25.06, Penal Code;
	(3)  election contests and suits under the Election
	Code;
	(4)  orders for the protection of the family under
	Subtitle B, Title 4, Family Code;
	(5)  appeals of final rulings and decisions of the
	division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of
	Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims and claims under
	the Federal Employers' Liability Act and the Jones Act;
	(6)  appeals of final orders of the commissioner of the
	General Land Office under Section 51.3021, Natural Resources Code;
	[and]
	(7)  actions in which the claimant has been diagnosed
	with malignant mesothelioma, other malignant asbestos-related
	cancer, malignant silica-related cancer, or acute silicosis; and
	(8)  appeals brought under Section 42.01 or 42.015, Tax
	Code, of orders of appraisal review boards of appraisal districts
	established for counties with a population of less than 175,000.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
	____________________________________________________________
	President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 57 passed the Senate on
	March 14, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 57 passed the House on
	May 2, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, two present
	not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	______________________________
	Governor