Monitoring the SessionHB 4825
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 the award of court costs and attorney's fees in certain actions challenging certain local laws, local regulatory actions, or the failure of an officer of certain political subdivisions to perform certain actions.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
State law overrides the local rule? Local taxpayers cover the winner’s lawyers and experts.
This bill makes cities, counties and other local governments pay the other side's court costs, lawyer fees and expert witness fees when they lose certain lawsuits. It covers suits showing a local rule, permit denial or similar action is overridden by state law, suits showing a local officer failed to do a duty state law requires, and suits showing a local government broke the state rules on plats and subdivisions in Chapters 212 and 232. People and businesses who sue and win get their legal bills covered by local taxpayers, starting with suits filed on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 2023 (Did not pass) 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 2023 (Did not pass). 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 Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the House State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB4825 · 2025-03-13
relating to the award of court costs and attorney's fees in certain actions challenging certain local laws, local regulatory actions, or the failure of an officer of certain political subdivisions to perform certain actions.
State law overrides the local rule? Local taxpayers cover the winner’s lawyers and experts.
This bill makes cities, counties and other local governments pay the other side's court costs, lawyer fees and expert witness fees when they lose certain lawsuits. It covers suits showing a local rule, permit denial or similar action is overridden by state law, suits showing a local officer failed to do a duty state law requires, and suits showing a local government broke the state rules on plats and subdivisions in Chapters 212 and 232. People and businesses who sue and win get their legal bills covered by local taxpayers, starting with suits filed on or after September 1, 2025.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
THE TEXT
…“the court shall award the person prevailing in the action court”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill creates one-way, mandatory fee shifting that pays winning challengers' legal bills out of local government budgets, making suits against local governments cheaper to bring.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
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 · Jul 24, 2024 to May 19, 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.
$8,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to May 19, 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: 100988555, 101060827.
$7,500.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jul 24, 2024 to Nov 18, 2025. 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: 100988555, 101031482.
$3,000.00
Also funds 113 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 27, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 1, 2024 to May 19, 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: 100988555, 101060827.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$8,000.00
Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 1, 2024 to May 19, 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: 100988555, 101060827.
$7,500.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Jul 24, 2024 to Nov 18, 2025. 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: 100988555, 101031482.
$3,000.00
Also funds 113 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Sep 27, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Dec 1, 2024 to May 19, 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: 100988555, 101060827.
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. Muñoz, Jr., same lead author · Did not pass · same text
Introduced textLast action, Apr 26, 2023: Committee report sent to Calendars
Relating to the award of court costs and attorney's fees in certain actions involving regulation by political subdivisions.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 H Referred to State Affairs: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Political Subdivisions
The text as introduced · 384 words
By: Muñoz H.B. No. 4825 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the award of court costs and attorney's fees in certain actions challenging certain local laws, local regulatory actions, or the failure of an officer of certain political subdivisions to perform certain actions. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Subtitle C, Title 7, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 250.011 to read as follows: Sec. 250.011. AWARD OF COURT COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES IN CERTAIN ACTIONS. (a) If a court determines that an order, ordinance, regulatory decision, denial of an application, refusal to issue a permit, or similar measure of a political subdivision is unenforceable because it is preempted by the state constitution or a state statute, the court shall award the person prevailing in the action challenging the order, ordinance, regulatory decision, denial of an application, refusal to issue a permit, or measure on that basis court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, including expert witness fees, to be paid by the political subdivision. (b) If a court determines that an officer of a political subdivision has failed to perform an act of the office required by the state constitution or a state statute, the court shall award the person prevailing in the action challenging the officer for failure to perform that act court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, including expert witness fees, to be paid by the political subdivision for which the officer served at the time of the failure to perform the act. (c) If a court determines that a political subdivision has failed to comply with the requirements of Chapter 212 of this Code, the court shall award the person prevailing in the action court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, including expert witness fees, to be paid by the political subdivision. (d) If a court determines that a political subdivision has failed to comply with the requirements of Chapter 232 of this Code, the court shall award the person prevailing in the action court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, including expert witness fees, to be paid by the political subdivision. (e) This section applies only to an action commenced on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.