Monitoring the SessionHB 1139
Died in committee
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to venue in certain actions involving a contract for an improvement to real property.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
The bill voids clauses forcing Texas contractors to sue elsewhere.
The bill voids any clause in a construction contract for Texas real property that forces a lawsuit involving a Texas-resident contractor, subcontractor, or materialman to be filed outside Texas. When such a clause is voided, the case must be filed in a Texas county where the defendant lives, where the claim arose, or where the property sits, unless the parties agree to a different venue after the dispute starts. It applies only to contracts signed on or after September 1, 2025, so Texas builders and suppliers can no longer be pushed into out-of-state courts on new Texas projects.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 2879 (Vetoed) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 2879 (Vetoed). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB1139 · 2024-11-12
relating to venue in certain actions involving a contract for an improvement to real property.
The bill voids clauses forcing Texas contractors to sue elsewhere.
The bill voids any clause in a construction contract for Texas real property that forces a lawsuit involving a Texas-resident contractor, subcontractor, or materialman to be filed outside Texas. When such a clause is voided, the case must be filed in a Texas county where the defendant lives, where the claim arose, or where the property sits, unless the parties agree to a different venue after the dispute starts. It applies only to contracts signed on or after September 1, 2025, so Texas builders and suppliers can no longer be pushed into out-of-state courts on new Texas projects.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
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Donors report through Friends of Tom Oliverson.
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Oliverson, same lead author · Vetoed · same text
Introduced textLast action, Jun 15, 2023: Vetoed by the Governor
Relating to venue in certain actions involving a contract for an improvement to real property.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/07/2025 H Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence: Mar 7 2025 2:33PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Final status: Died in committee
SB 1975 by Bettencourt (identical)
Business & Commerce--General
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Courts--Civil Procedure
Property Interests--Real Property
The text as introduced · 221 words
89R5447 MZM-F By: Oliverson H.B. No. 1139 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to venue in certain actions involving a contract for an improvement to real property. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 15, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 15.021 to read as follows: Sec. 15.021. CONTRACTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL PROPERTY. (a) A venue provision in a contract for an improvement to real property located in this state that requires an action involving a contractor, subcontractor, or materialman who is a resident of this state to be brought outside this state is void as a matter of public policy. (b) To the extent that a venue provision in a contract is void under this section, unless the parties stipulate to another venue after the dispute arises, an action arising out of the contract shall be brought only in this state in the county in which: (1) the defendant resides; (2) the cause of action accrued; or (3) the property that is the subject of the litigation is located. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a contract entered into on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
