HB 4554
Slawson’s bill speeding up residential eviction trials
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
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
Caption
relating to procedures for residential eviction suits.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Trial within 10 to 21 days. Default winners get a writ right away.
The bill sets a firm trial window of 10 to 21 days after a residential eviction suit is filed, and lets a landlord who wins by default get a writ of possession right away on demand and payment of fees. It touches landlords, tenants, justice courts, and the sheriffs and constables who carry out evictions. On the ground, default evictions move faster: the writ issues immediately even if the tenant has filed an appeal, and officers must carry it out within 10 business days.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 12, 2025 and referred to the House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4554 · 2025-03-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to procedures for residential eviction suits.
WHAT IT DOES
Trial within 10 to 21 days. Default winners get a writ right away.
The bill sets a firm trial window of 10 to 21 days after a residential eviction suit is filed, and lets a landlord who wins by default get a writ of possession right away on demand and payment of fees. It touches landlords, tenants, justice courts, and the sheriffs and constables who carry out evictions. On the ground, default evictions move faster: the writ issues immediately even if the tenant has filed an appeal, and officers must carry it out within 10 business days.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 30, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.
Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$50,000.00
Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 6, 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.
Report IDs: 101069356.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$25,083.33
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$25,083.33
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $83.33
- Total
- $25,083.33
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 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.
Report IDs: 101010888, 101033988, 101072692.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 6, 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.
Report IDs: 101069356.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$25,083.33
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $83.33
- Total
- $25,083.33
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 25, 2025 to Sep 29, 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.
Report IDs: 101010888, 101033988, 101072692.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
SB 1904 by Kolkhorst (identical)
Subjects
Courts--Civil Procedure
Property Interests--Landlord & Tenant
CONSTABLES
SHERIFFS
SUPREME COURT
Text
The text as introduced · 383 words
89R1210 DRS-D By: Slawson H.B. No. 4554 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to procedures for residential eviction suits. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 24.0051, Property Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) The court shall set a trial date for a residential eviction suit that is not earlier than the 10th day and not later than the 21st day after the date the suit is filed. SECTION 2. Section 24.0061, Property Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and (j) to read as follows: (b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), a [ A ] writ of possession may not be issued before the sixth day after the date on which the judgment for possession is rendered unless a possession bond has been filed and approved under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and judgment for possession is thereafter granted by default. (b-1) If judgment for possession in a residential eviction suit is granted by default, the court shall issue a writ of possession immediately upon demand and payment of any required fees, without regard to whether a possession bond has been filed and approved or whether a defendant has perfected an appeal in the case. (j) A sheriff or constable shall execute a writ of possession under Subsection (b-1) not later than the 10th business day after the date the court issues the writ. For purposes of this section, "business day" means a day other than Saturday, Sunday, or a state or federal holiday. SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an eviction suit in which the notice to vacate is given on or after the effective date of this Act. An eviction suit in which the notice to vacate is given 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 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.