Texas has just expanded its court system. Last summer, Governor Greg Abbott signed into law House Bill 19, which created a new, specialized court to address commercial disputes. The business court is set to open on September 1, 2024. Initially, the court will consist of five divisions in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, with six more divisions deferred until the 2025 legislative session.

The United States reserves its domestic maritime trade to vessels “built in the United States” under a set of laws popularly referred to as the “Jones Act.” What qualifies as “U.S. built” under the law and U.S. Coast Guard interpretations was recently tested in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit case of Diamond Services Corp. v. Curtin Maritime Corp.