For civil litigants, it can be frustrating to present a dispositive issue to a court only to have that issue go unresolved for the duration of the case with no ruling. This can cause uncertainty in the litigation, unnecessary expenditure of legal fees, and unnecessary delays.  It is difficult for lawyers to advise their clients about case strategy and potential outcomes when there is no predictability about whether a court will rule or not.  

In an effort to address these issues, the legislature recently passed SB 293 and HB 16 resulting in the addition of Section 23.303 to Chapter 23, Subchapter D of the Texas Government Code.  Section 23.303 contains strict deadlines for the court regarding summary judgment motions aimed at reducing judicial delays and increasing predictability in litigation.  

For a motion for summary judgment filed in the…