The Supreme Court of Texas is inviting public comments on proposed amendments to Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 9, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, and 64, as set forth in this order.
In Misc. Dkt. No. 25-9092, the Court sets forth a plan to eliminate the Court’s practice of requesting merits briefs before granting a petition for review, effective January 1, 2026.
Comments regarding the proposed amendments should be submitted in writing to rulescomments@txcourts.gov by December 23, 2025. The Court will issue an order finalizing the amendments after the close of the comment period. The Court may change the rules in response to public comments.
The Court expects the amendments to take effect on January 1, 2026, and to apply fully to any proceeding in the Court if the petition for review, original proceeding, or certified question is filed in the Court on or after that date. If a petition for review, original proceeding, or certified question is filed in the Court before January 1, 2026, then the former rules apply in all respects, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.