TO:	Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1603 by Hughes (Relating to the decision of a court of appeals not to accept certain interlocutory appeals.), As Introduced

The bill would provide that if a court of appeals does not accept an interlocutory appeal of an order that involves certain controlling questions of law on which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion where the appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation, the appeals court must state in its decision the specific reason for finding the appeal is not warranted. The bill authorizes the Texas Supreme Court to review an appeals court decision not to accept an interlocutory appeal under an abuse of discretion standard.  

The fiscal implications cannot be determined due to a lack of interlocutory appeal data. Based on information provided by the Office of Court Administration, interlocutory appeal data are not collected so an estimate of volume and related cost cannot be made. 

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.