HB 2463
AN ACT relating to the award of compensatory damages caused by certain
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
Allows contractors to receive compensatory damages from governmental entities when project delays are solely caused by the government or its representatives. Contractors can now recover specific actual costs incurred due to unreasonable delays, such as project-related expenses, with certain limitations on overhead and indirect costs. The legislation applies to various governmental entities including state agencies, municipalities, counties, school districts, and courts, and takes effect September 1, 2025, covering construction contracts entered into on or after that date.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the award of compensatory damages caused by certain delays under governmental construction contracts. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 2252, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 2252.911 to read as follows: Sec. 2252.911. COMPENSATORY DAMAGES CAUSED BY GOVERNMENTAL DELAYS IN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS. (a) In this section: (1) "Compensatory damages" means the costs actually incurred by a contractor as a result of delay in the schedule that could not be reasonably mitigated by the contractor. The term does (C) home office overhead, except overhead costs for labor as defined in the applicable construction contract; (D) profit or markup on indirect costs; (E) the costs of performing additional work that are separately agreed to by the governmental entity and contractor (F) indirect costs not related to the project in the applicable construction contract. (2) "Contractor" means a person engaged in the business of developing, constructing, fabricating, repairing, altering, or remodeling improvements to real property. (3) "Governmental entity" means: (B) a municipality, county, public school district, or special-purpose district or authority; (C) a district, county, or justice of the peace (D) a board, commission, department, office, or other agency in the executive branch of state government, including an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, (E) the legislature or a legislative agency; or (F) the Supreme Court of Texas, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, a court of appeals, or the State Bar of Texas or another judicial agency having statewide jurisdiction. (b) A provision of a construction contract between a governmental entity and a contractor may not prohibit the award of compensatory damages to the contractor for a delay to the extent that the delay is caused solely by the governmental entity or by a party for which the governmental entity is responsible. (c) This section does not restrict, limit, or prohibit the inclusion of a contract provision in a construction contract prescribing requirements or conditions that must be met by a contractor to seek recovery of compensatory damages, including requirements or conditions relating to notice, justification, or a duty to mitigate or for demonstrating or proving the actual cost or (d) This section may not be waived. A purported waiver of this section in violation of this subsection is void. (e) This section does not apply to a construction contract: (1) for services related to recovery or relief from a natural disaster involving the repair or renovation of a residence; (2) that is subject to Section 201.112, Transportation SECTION 2. Section 2252.911, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a construction contract entered into on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the award of compensatory damages caused by certain
Related Guides
Learn more about tracking Texas legislation and working with lobbyists.
How to Read & Track Texas Bills
Master bill numbering, understand legislative language, and learn effective tracking strategies.
Understanding Texas Legislative Deadlines
Navigate the 140-day session with critical calendar dates and filing deadlines.
How Laws Get Made in Texas
Follow a bill's journey from filing to the governor's desk through committees and floor votes.
When Should Your Business Hire a Lobbyist?
Discover the signs that your business needs professional advocacy at the Texas Capitol.