HB 1419
AN ACT relating to liability limits for noneconomic damages for personal
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
This Texas bill sets new limits on noneconomic damages in personal injury and wrongful death claims. For physical pain and suffering, noneconomic damages cannot exceed three times the amount awarded for healthcare costs; for emotional damages, the limit is $1 million in cases primarily causing emotional injury and $250,000 in cases primarily causing bodily injury. The limits will increase by 1.75% annually starting January 1, 2027, and apply to causes of action accruing on or after the bill's effective date.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to liability limits for noneconomic damages for personal injury and wrongful death claims. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 41, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 41.0025 to read as follows: Sec. 41.0025. LIABILITY LIMIT FOR NONECONOMIC DAMAGES IN PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS. (a) In an action on a personal injury claim, civil liability to a claimant for noneconomic damages, unless subject to a limitation imposed by other law, may not exceed: (1) for noneconomic damages awarded as damages for past and future physical pain and suffering, three times the amount awarded to the claimant as damages for past and future health care (2) for noneconomic damages awarded as damages for past and future mental or emotional pain or anguish: (A) $1 million if the claim arises from an event primarily causing emotional injury to the claimant; or (B) $250,000 if the claim arises from an event primarily causing bodily injury to the claimant. (b) For purposes of the limitations provided by Subsection (a), all persons that may be responsible under a vicarious liability theory for satisfying a judgment are treated as a single (c) Beginning on January 1, 2027, and continuing on January 1 of each subsequent year, the fixed-amount limitations provided by Subsection (a) increase by 1.75 percent from the prior year's SECTION 2. Section 71.010(a), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Except as provided by Section 71.0105, the [The] jury may award damages in an amount proportionate to the injury SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 71, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 71.0105 to read as Sec. 71.0105. LIABILITY LIMIT FOR CERTAIN NONECONOMIC DAMAGES. (a) In an action brought under this subchapter, civil liability for noneconomic damages, unless subject to a limitation imposed by other law, may not exceed $1 million for each claimant as damages for past and future mental or emotional pain or anguish. (b) For purposes of the limitation provided by Subsection (a), all persons that may be responsible under a vicarious liability theory for satisfying a judgment are treated as a single (c) Beginning on January 1, 2027, and continuing on January 1 of each subsequent year, the fixed-amount limitation provided by Subsection (a) increases by 1.75 percent from the prior year's SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act are an exercise of authority under Section 66(c), Article III, Texas Constitution, and take effect only if this Act receives a vote of three-fifths of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Subsection (e) of that section. SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to liability limits for noneconomic damages for personal
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