A statutory county court has broad jurisdiction, but it cannot hear certain road, bridge, highway, county-business, or statutory-probate matters.
Sec. 25.0003. JURISDICTION. (a) A statutory county court has jurisdiction over all causes and proceedings, civil and criminal, original and appellate, prescribed by law for county courts. (b) A statutory county court does not have jurisdiction over causes and proceedings concerning roads, bridges, and public highways and the general administration of county business that is within the jurisdiction of the commissioners court of each county. (c) In addition to other jurisdiction provided by law, a statutory county court exercising civil jurisdiction concurrent with the constitutional jurisdiction of the county court has concurrent jurisdiction with the district court in: (1) civil cases in which the matter in controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $325,000, excluding interest, statutory or punitive damages and penalties, and attorney's fees and costs, as alleged on the face of the petition; and (2) appeals of final rulings and decisions of the division of workers' compensation of the Texas Department of Insurance regarding workers' compensation claims, regardless of the amount in controversy. (d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a statutory county court has, concurrent with the county court, the probate jurisdiction provided by general law for county courts. (e) In a county that has a statutory probate court, a statutory probate court is the only county court created by statute with probate jurisdiction. (f) A statutory county court does not have the jurisdiction of a statutory probate court granted statutory probate courts by the Estates Code. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 4.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 746, Sec. 2, 3, eff. Oct. 1, 1991; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 431, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 265 (H.B. 7), Sec. 6.002, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 3 (H.B. 79), Sec. 4.02, eff. January 1, 2012. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 22.022, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 696 (S.B. 2342), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2020. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 7 (H.B. 16), Sec. 2.02, eff. December 4, 2025.