HB 4737
bill giving the law examiners a 100-day deadline
Did not pass
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 the application processing time for admission to practice law in this state without examination for an attorney licensed to practice law in another state.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Out-of-state lawyers get an answer within 100 days of filing.
The bill gives the Texas Board of Law Examiners a deadline: it must process an application from a lawyer already licensed in another U.S. state to practice in Texas without taking the bar exam within 100 days of filing. It affects out-of-state lawyers who want a Texas license and the board that reviews their files. Starting September 1, 2025, new applications of this kind have a set processing clock, while applications filed earlier stay under the old rules.
Labels
Labels: STALLED AFTER COMMITTEE. Voted out of the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence committee 8-1 on May 1, 2025. Placed on the General State Calendar on May 14, 2025. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB4737 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
+ 2 more authors
ITEM
relating to the application processing time for admission to practice law in this state without examination for an attorney licensed to practice law in another state.
WHAT IT DOES
Out-of-state lawyers get an answer within 100 days of filing.
The bill gives the Texas Board of Law Examiners a deadline: it must process an application from a lawyer already licensed in another U.S. state to practice in Texas without taking the bar exam within 100 days of filing. It affects out-of-state lawyers who want a Texas license and the board that reviews their files. Starting September 1, 2025, new applications of this kind have a set processing clock, while applications filed earlier stay under the old rules.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
- Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Considered in public hearing
- Left pending in committee
- Considered in formal meeting
- Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
- Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
- Committee report distributed
- Committee report sent to Calendars
- Considered in Calendars
- Placed on General State Calendar
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 · Jul 1, 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.
6301 ECC LLC$36,400.00
6301 ECC LLC
$36,400.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,400.00
- Total
- $36,400.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100978329, 101005348, 101026340, 101056439, 101069774, 101071921.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$21,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$21,000.00
- Cash
- $21,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $21,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 4, 2024 to Oct 9, 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: 100978329, 101026340, 101056439, 101071921.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
6301 ECC LLC
$36,400.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,400.00
- Total
- $36,400.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 1, 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: 100978329, 101005348, 101026340, 101056439, 101069774, 101071921.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$21,000.00
- Cash
- $21,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $21,000.00
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.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 4, 2024 to Oct 9, 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: 100978329, 101026340, 101056439, 101071921.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · April 14, 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 I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 13, 2025
05/14/2025 H Placed on General State Calendar
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence · Committee vote 8 aye, 1 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee
Subjects
Lawyers
Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions
LAW EXAMINERS, BOARD OF (VT1OY)
Text
The text as introduced · 264 words
89R18324 AMF-D By: Bhojani H.B. No. 4737 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the application processing time for admission to practice law in this state without examination for an attorney licensed to practice law in another state. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 82.036, Government Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 82.036. FOREIGN ATTORNEYS. (a) Subject to Subsection (b), the [ The ] supreme court shall make such rules and regulations as to admitting attorneys from other jurisdictions to practice law in this state as it shall deem proper and just. All such attorneys shall be required to furnish satisfactory proof as to good moral character. (b) The Board of Law Examiners shall process an application for admission to practice law in this state without examination for an attorney licensed to practice law in another state of the United States not later than the 100th day after the date the attorney files the application with the board. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an application for admission to practice law in this state without examination filed with the Board of Law Examiners on or after the effective date of this Act. An application for admission to practice law in this state without examination filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect the date the application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.