Monitoring the Session

HB 4623

School abuse lawsuits gain a new route

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsReviewed
Rep. Mitch LittleRHouse 65

Editor's call: No flags. On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked this charge against the bill's caption and removed it.

Corrected Nov 1, 2026

Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.

Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to liability of public schools and professional school employees for sexual misconduct involving students.

Caption from analyzed text · version S.

Summary

School liability requires gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. Damages have a cap.

The bill lets students sue a public school district or charter school when the school was grossly negligent, reckless, or intentional in hiring, supervising, or keeping an employee who sexually abused a student or failed to report suspected child abuse. It reaches school districts, charter schools, and a wide list of school workers, from teachers and bus drivers to school board members, who must be named in the suit and cannot claim official immunity. Starting September 1, 2025, schools lose their immunity for these claims, and each winning claimant can recover up to $500,000 plus court costs and attorney's fees.

Labels

Labels: BUZZER BEATER. Final vote May 30, 2025: the House concurred in the Senate amendments. 3 days before the session ended Jun 2, 2025.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 2 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4623 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Mitch LittleRHouse 65 Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr.DHouse 142 Rep. Terri Leo WilsonRHouse 23

+ 41 coauthors

ITEM

relating to liability of public schools and professional school employees for sexual misconduct involving students.

WHAT IT DOES

School liability requires gross negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct. Damages have a cap.

The bill lets students sue a public school district or charter school when the school was grossly negligent, reckless, or intentional in hiring, supervising, or keeping an employee who sexually abused a student or failed to report suspected child abuse. It reaches school districts, charter schools, and a wide list of school workers, from teachers and bus drivers to school board members, who must be named in the suit and cannot claim official immunity. Starting September 1, 2025, schools lose their immunity for these claims, and each winning claimant can recover up to $500,000 plus court costs and attorney's fees.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to lack of data.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 29, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in formal meeting
  9. Committee substitute considered in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Amendment(s) offered 1-Hinojosa
  18. Amendment amended 2-Little
  19. Record vote RV#2416
  20. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  21. Amendment adopted as amended 1-Hinojosa
  22. Amendment(s) offered 3-Toth
  23. Point of order withdrawn (amendment) Rule 11, Section 2
  24. Amendment withdrawn 3-Toth
  25. Passed to engrossment as amended
  26. Record vote RV#2417
  27. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  28. Read 3rd time
  29. Passed
  30. Record vote RV#2487
  31. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  32. Reason for vote recorded in Journal
  33. Reported engrossed
  34. Received from the House
  35. Read first time
  36. Referred to Education K-16
  37. Co-sponsor authorized
  38. Co-sponsor authorized
  39. Co-sponsor authorized
  40. Posting rule suspended
  41. Co-sponsor authorized
  42. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  43. Considered in public hearing
  44. Testimony taken in committee
  45. Left pending in committee
  46. Co-sponsor authorized
  47. Co-sponsor authorized
  48. Considered in public hearing
  49. Vote taken in committee
  50. Reported favorably as substituted
  51. Committee report printed and distributed
  52. Co-sponsor authorized
  53. Placed on intent calendar
  54. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  55. Read 2nd time
  56. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Paxton
  57. Amended
  58. Vote recorded in Journal
  59. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  60. Vote recorded in Journal
  61. Three day rule suspended
  62. Record vote
  63. Read 3rd time
  64. Passed
  65. Record vote
  66. Senate passage as amended reported
  67. Senate Amendments distributed
  68. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  69. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  70. Record vote RV#4061
  71. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  72. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  73. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  74. Reported enrolled
  75. Signed in the House
  76. Signed in the Senate
  77. Sent to the Governor
  78. Signed by the Governor
  79. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 109 yea · 19 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 14, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 27, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Mitch Little

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$170KTexans for Truth and Liberty PAC$110KHillCo PAC$80K

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 29, 2024 to Oct 22, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$169,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$169,500.00

Cash
$157,500.00
Paid by others
$12,000.00
Total
$169,500.00
Other filed descriptions $12,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 7, 2024 to Oct 14, 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: 100983892, 101006301, 101028846, 101058046, 101067892, 101071829.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$110,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$110,000.00

Cash
$110,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$110,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 5, 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: 101006301, 101071829.

HillCo PAC$80,000.00

HillCo PAC

$80,000.00

Cash
$80,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$80,000.00

Also funds 131 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 8, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2025 to Oct 13, 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: 101028846, 101067892, 101071829.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$169,500.00

Cash
$157,500.00
Paid by others
$12,000.00
Total
$169,500.00
Other filed descriptions $12,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 7, 2024 to Oct 14, 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: 100983892, 101006301, 101028846, 101058046, 101067892, 101071829.

×

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$110,000.00

Cash
$110,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$110,000.00

Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 5, 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: 101006301, 101071829.

×

HillCo PAC

$80,000.00

Cash
$80,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$80,000.00

Also funds 131 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 8, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 4, 2025 to Oct 13, 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: 101028846, 101067892, 101071829.

Votes7

House May 30, 2025

Yea
106
Nay
28
Present, not voting
2
Absent
8
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4061

Representative Little moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 4623. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 4623 prevailed by (Record 4061): 106 Yeas, 28 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 106 (published)
  • Nay: 28 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 8 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea
30
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Sources

Senator Paxton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 4623 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSHB 4623 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

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 May 14, 2025

Yea
109
Nay
19
Present, not voting
6
Absent
13
Excused
3
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2487

HB 4623 was passed by (Record 2487): 109 Yeas, 19 Nays, 6 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 109 (published)
  • Nay: 19 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 6 (published)
  • Absent: 13 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 13, 2025

Yea
127
Nay
6
Present, not voting
1
Absent
6
Excused
10
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2417

CSHB 4623, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 2417): 127 Yeas, 6 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 127 (published)
  • Nay: 6 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 6 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 13, 2025

Yea
123
Nay
9
Present, not voting
3
Absent
5
Excused
10
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2416

Amendment No. 2 was adopted by (Record 2416): 123 Yeas, 9 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 123 (published)
  • Nay: 9 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 3 (published)
  • Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 10 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses54
For
37
Against
13
On
4
Names

For

  • Self19 registrations
  • Self; Citizens Defending Freedom3 registrations
  • Self; Eagle Forum1 registration
  • Self; Heather Long Law PC (Dallas, Texas)1 registration
  • Self; Jabo booyen ministries1 registration
  • Self; Jaco Booyen ministries1 registration
  • Self; Jaco Booyens Ministries1 registration
  • Self; Jaco booyens ministries1 registration
  • Self; Jaco booyens ministry1 registration
  • Self; SREC Committeeman SD31 registration
  • Self; Texas Eagle Forum2 registrations
  • Self; Texas Education 9112 registrations
  • Self; Texas trial lawyers association2 registrations
  • Texas Watch1 registration

Against

  • Self2 registrations
  • Texas AFT1 registration
  • Texas Association of Community Schools1 registration
  • Texas Association of School Administrators3 registrations
  • Texas Civil Justice League2 registrations
  • Texas Classroom Teachers Association2 registrations
  • Texas State Teachers Association1 registration
  • Texas state teachers association1 registration

On

  • Association of Texas Professional Educators1 registration
  • Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE)1 registration
  • ATPE1 registration
  • Texas Education Agency1 registration
Sources

54 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to lack of data.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 29, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version S by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 6:27 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Daniel AldersRHouse 6 Jeff BarryRHouse 29 Keith BellRHouse 4 Greg BonnenRHouse 24 Brad BuckleyRHouse 54 Benjamin BumgarnerRHouse 63 Angie Chen ButtonRHouse 112 Giovanni CapriglioneRHouse 98 Mano DeAyalaRHouse 133 Josey GarciaDHouse 124 Stan GerdesRHouse 17 Sam HarlessRHouse 126 Cody HarrisRHouse 8 Cole HefnerRHouse 5 Hillary HicklandRHouse 55 Andy HopperRHouse 64 Lacey HullRHouse 138 Todd HunterRHouse 32 Helen KerwinRHouse 58 Stan KitzmanRHouse 85 Marc LaHoodRHouse 121 Brooks LandgrafRHouse 81 Janie LopezRHouse 37 David LoweRHouse 91 Shelley LutherRHouse 62 John McQueeneyRHouse 97 Will MetcalfRHouse 16 Brent MoneyRHouse 2 Tom OliversonRHouse 130 Jared PattersonRHouse 106 Katrina PiersonRHouse 33 Keresa RichardsonRHouse 61 Alan SchoolcraftRHouse 44 Joanne ShofnerRHouse 11 Shelby SlawsonRHouse 59 Steve TothRHouse 15 Ellen TroxclairRHouse 19 Cody VasutRHouse 25 Denise VillalobosRHouse 34 Wes VirdellRHouse 53 Terry M. WilsonRHouse 20
Sponsors
Angela PaxtonRSenate 8
Cosponsors
Carol AlvaradoDSenate 6 Paul BettencourtRSenate 7 Donna CampbellRSenate 25 Brandon CreightonRSenate 4 Brent HagenbuchRSenate 30 Bob HallRSenate 2 Kelly HancockRSenate 9 Adam HinojosaRSenate 27 Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20 Joan HuffmanRSenate 17 Bryan HughesRSenate 1 Phil KingRSenate 10 Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18 José MenéndezDSenate 26 Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11 Tan ParkerRSenate 12 Charles PerryRSenate 28 Kevin SparksRSenate 31 Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21

House committee · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Committee vote 6 aye, 3 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Education K-16 · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Civil Remedies & Liabilities

Education--Primary & Secondary--Other School Personnel

Education--Primary & Secondary--Teachers

Minors--Crimes Against

Minors--Health & Safety

CHILD ABUSE

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Text

The text as introduced · 619 words

By: Little
H.B. No. 4623

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to liability of public schools and professional school

employees for certain injuries to students.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Title 5, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 118 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 118. LIABILITY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONAL

EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR CERTAIN INJURIES TO STUDENTS

Sec. 118.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Open-enrollment charter school" has the meaning

assigned by Section 5.001, Education Code.

(2) "Professional school employee" includes:

(A) a superintendent or administrator serving as

educational leader and chief executive officer of the school,

principal or equivalent chief operating officer, teacher,

including a substitute teacher, supervisor, social worker, school

counselor, nurse, and teacher's aide employed by a public school;

(B) a teacher employed by a company that

contracts with a public school to provide the teacher's services to

the school;

(C) a student in an education preparation program

participating in a field experience or internship;

(D) a school bus driver certified in accordance

with standards and qualifications adopted by the Department of

Public Safety of the State of Texas;

(E) a member of the board of trustees of an

independent school district or a member of the governing body of an

open-enrollment charter school; and

(F) any other person employed by a public school

whose employment requires certification and the exercise of

discretion.

(3) "Public school" means an independent school

district or an open-enrollment charter school.

(4) "Sexual misconduct" means sexual abuse or conduct

described by Section 20A.02, 21.02, 21.07, 21.08, 21.11, 21.12,

21.15, 21.16, 21.165, 21.17, 21.18, 21.19, 22.011, 22.012, 22.021,

or 43.25, Penal Code.

Sec. 118.002. LIABILITY. (a) A public school is liable for

an act or omission that is committed by a professional school

employee against a student enrolled in the school and that is:

(1) sexual misconduct;

(2) failure to report suspected child abuse or neglect

under Section 261.101, Family Code; or

(3) any other negligent, reckless, knowing, or

intentional act or omission resulting in injury to or the death of

the student, including bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or

serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury, other than the

use of physical force against a student to the extent justified

under Section 9.62, Penal Code.

(b) In an action against a public school under this chapter,

the professional school employee who committed the act or omission

on which the claim is based must be named as a defendant. The public

school and the professional school employee are jointly and

severally liable for an award in an action under this chapter.

Sec. 118.003. DAMAGES. (a) A claimant who prevails in an

action under this chapter shall be awarded:

(1) actual damages;

(2) court costs; and

(3) reasonable and necessary attorney's fees.

(b) In addition to an award under Subsection (a), a claimant

who prevails in an action under this chapter may recover exemplary

damages.

Sec. 118.004. REMEDIES NOT EXCLUSIVE. The remedies

authorized by this chapter are in addition to any other legal

remedies.

Sec. 118.005. WAIVER OF GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY; OFFICIAL

IMMUNITY ABOLISHED. (a) A public school's governmental immunity

to suit and from liability is waived to the extent of liability

created by this chapter.

(b) A professional school employee may not assert official

immunity under Subchapter B, Chapter 22, Education Code, the common

law, or any other law in an action brought under this chapter.

SECTION 2. Chapter 118, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,

as added by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues

on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.