The bill sets a venue rule for lawsuits under the state law on private transfer fees for real property. It requires those lawsuits to be filed in the county where the property sits, except for suits brought by the attorney general. It applies only to suits filed on or after September 1, 2025.
relating to venue in certain actions involving private transfer
fees for real property.
WHAT IT DOES
Unless the attorney general brings the suit.
The bill sets a venue rule for lawsuits under the state law on private transfer fees for real property. It requires those lawsuits to be filed in the county where the property sits, except for suits brought by the attorney general. It applies only to suits filed on or after September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
HB 4170 (Hughes) Relating to venue in certain actions involving private transfer fees for real property. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Sources
HB 4170 (Hughes) Relating to venue in certain actions involving private transfer fees for real property. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.
The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to third reading, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to third reading. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.
Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.
Sources
HB 4170 (Hughes) Relating to venue in certain actions involving private transfer fees for real property. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)
Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.
Yea: Not printed
Nay: Not printed
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed
Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
House committee · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
Senate committee · Jurisprudence · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
Subjects
Courts--Civil Procedure
Property Interests--Real Property
Text
The text as introduced · 162 words
89R15661 RAL-F
By: Hayes
H.B. No. 4170
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to venue in certain actions involving private transfer
fees for real property.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 5, Property Code, is
amended by adding Section 5.208 to read as follows:
Sec. 5.208. VENUE. Notwithstanding any other law, an
action brought under this subchapter, other than an action brought
by the attorney general, must be brought in the county in which the
real property is located.
SECTION 2. Section 5.208, Property Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to an action filed on or after the effective date
of this Act. An action filed before the effective date of this Act
is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Monitoring 