HB 5506
bill shields ringside physicians from civil lawsuits
Companion SB 842 became law
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to immunity for ringside physicians assigned to combative sports events.
Caption from analyzed text · version H.
Summary
Fighters can still sue them. For gross negligence only.
The bill shields ringside physicians at combative sports events from civil lawsuits over acts within the scope of their duties at those events. It touches ringside doctors and the fighters or others who might otherwise sue them. Starting with suits filed after the law takes effect, only claims of gross negligence can go forward against these doctors.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB5506 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to immunity for ringside physicians assigned to combative sports events.
WHAT IT DOES
Fighters can still sue them. For gross negligence only.
The bill shields ringside physicians at combative sports events from civil lawsuits over acts within the scope of their duties at those events. It touches ringside doctors and the fighters or others who might otherwise sue them. Starting with suits filed after the law takes effect, only claims of gross negligence can go forward against these doctors.
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 Licensing & Administrative Procedures
- Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
- Considered in public hearing
- Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
- Left pending in committee
- Considered in public hearing
- 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
- Companion considered in lieu of SB 842
- Laid on the table subject to call
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
…“a ringside physician is immune from civil liability arising from acts within the scope of the physician's responsibilities at a combative sports event”
Bill text, House committee report version (H)
The bill creates a lawsuit shield for one class of physicians, leaving only gross negligence claims open.
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 Jun 24, 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.
JLN III Holdings LLC$50,000.00
JLN III Holdings LLC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 8, 2024 to Dec 2, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Oct 11, 2024. 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: 100987524.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
JLN III Holdings LLC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Oct 8, 2024 to Dec 2, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Oct 11, 2024. 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: 100987524.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Witnesses2
- For
- 1
- Against
- 0
- On
- 1
Names
For
- Texans for Lawsuit Reform1 registration
On
- TDLR1 registration
Sources
2 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.
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 H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 14, 2025
05/10/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Licensing & Administrative Procedures · Committee vote 13 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
Companion
SB 842 by Schwertner (identical)
Subjects
Amusements, Games, Sports
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Malpractice--Professionals
Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions
PHYSICIANS
Text
The text as introduced · 197 words
89R8276 PRL-F By: Phelan H.B. No. 5506 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to immunity for ringside physicians assigned to combative sports events. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 2052, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 2052.255 to read as follows: Sec. 2052.255. IMMUNITY FOR RINGSIDE PHYSICIANS. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a ringside physician is immune from civil liability arising from acts within the scope of the physician's responsibilities at a combative sports event. (b) The immunity from civil liability provided by Subsection (a) does not apply to a cause of action arising from an act or omission constituting gross negligence of the physician. SECTION 2. Section 2052.255, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an action commenced on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.