CS/HB 965: Voluntary Trial Resolution
GENERAL BILL by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee ; Partington
Voluntary Trial Resolution; Removes provisions relating to voluntary trial resolution; authorizes parties to civil cases, family law cases, or probate cases to agree to or stipulate appointment of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires parties to promptly serve copy of joint motion & form on presiding judge; requires presiding judge to enter specified order within certain time period; requires appointed voluntary trial resolution judge to take & subscribe to specified oath; provides exception; requires voluntary trial resolution judge to adjudicate case until final determination of case; requires case to be returned to presiding judge; requires immediate disclosure by voluntary trial resolution judge to parties of circumstances requiring disqualification; authorizes waiver of disqualification; provides for compensation of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires presiding judge to retain jurisdiction for specified purpose; requires clerk of court to treat cases referred to voluntary trial resolution in specified manner; requires chief judge or his or her designee to make available public facilities & personnel in proceedings assigned to voluntary trial resolution judge in specified manner; requires chief judge & clerk to coordinate provision of jurors with voluntary trial resolution judge for certain actions; authorizes parties to agree to use certain facilities for other specified matters; specifies that parties are responsible for certain costs; provides scope of judicial functions of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires presiding judge to maintain jurisdiction to perform certain judicial functions; requires voluntary trial resolution judge to conduct proceedings under specified rules of court; requires voluntary trial resolution proceedings to be noticed & open to public.
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Bill History
Date Chamber Action 1/5/2026 House • Filed
1/12/2026 House • Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
• Referred to Judiciary Committee
• Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/13/2026 House • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
2/16/2026 House • Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
2/18/2026 House • Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
• Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
• Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
• CS Filed
• 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/20/2026 House • Referred to Judiciary Committee
• Now in Judiciary Committee
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CS/HB 965, Committee Substitute 1 (Current Bill Version) Posted 2/18/2026 at 12:21 PM
Bill Text: PDF Analyses: None Related Bills (1)
Bill Number Subject Filed By Relationship Last Action and Location Track Bills S 1424 Voluntary Trial Resolution Berman Similar Last Action: 1/22/2026 S Introduced 
Citations - Statutes (3)
Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help 44.104 Voluntary binding arbitration and voluntary trial resolution. Page 3 (pdf) 44.1045 Page 7 (pdf) 44.107 Immunity for arbitrators, mediators, and mediator trainees. Page 12 (pdf) -
HB 965, Original Filed Version Posted 1/5/2026 at 9:47 AM
Bill Text: PDF Analyses: Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) 2/18/2026 (pdf)
Related Bills (1)
Bill Number Subject Filed By Relationship Last Action and Location Track Bills S 1424 Voluntary Trial Resolution Berman Similar Last Action: 1/22/2026 S Introduced
Committee Amendments (1)
Amendment Sponsor Filed Last Committee Action Format 868659 - Strike All Amendment
Remove everything after the enacting clause and insert:Partington 2/17/2026
2:44 PMAdopted
2/18/2026PDF Citations - Statutes (2)
Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help 44.104 Voluntary binding arbitration and voluntary trial resolution. Page 3 (pdf) 44.107 Immunity for arbitrators, mediators, and mediator trainees. Page 8 (pdf)