Monitoring the SessionHB 823
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 recovery of exemplary damages based on a compensable death under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
It adds parents and the estate, keeps spouse and children.
This bill changes who can sue for extra punishment damages when a worker dies because the employer acted on purpose or with gross negligence. It adds the worker's parents and estate to the list of people who can recover those damages, keeps the spouse and children, and drops the older wording about heirs of the body. It applies only to injuries on or after January 1, 2026, and only if Texas voters approve a matching constitutional amendment; otherwise the bill has no effect.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 102 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 102 (Died in committee). 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 Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development subcommittee on Workforce. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB823 · 2024-11-12
relating to the recovery of exemplary damages based on a compensable death under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act.
It adds parents and the estate, keeps spouse and children.
This bill changes who can sue for extra punishment damages when a worker dies because the employer acted on purpose or with gross negligence. It adds the worker's parents and estate to the list of people who can recover those damages, keeps the spouse and children, and drops the older wording about heirs of the body. It applies only to injuries on or after January 1, 2026, and only if Texas voters approve a matching constitutional amendment; otherwise the bill has no effect.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
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 18, 2024 to Oct 21, 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.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$22,500.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$14,000.00
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 · Dec 4, 2024 to Jun 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.
Report IDs: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$40,000.00
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.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 16, 2024 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$22,500.00
Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 7, 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: 100991261, 101012357, 101035257, 101068783.
$14,000.00
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 · Dec 4, 2024 to Jun 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.
Report IDs: 101011899, 101012357, 101035257.
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. Senfronia Thompson, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked
Introduced textLast action, May 15, 2023: Referred to Business & Commerce
Relating to the recovery of exemplary damages based on a compensable death under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/05/2025 H Referred to s/c on Workforce by Speaker: Mar 5 2025 11:46AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Final status: Died in committee
Enabling legislation for HJR 65.
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Labor--Workers' Compensation
CHRISTION FITZGERALD ACT (PM7GK)
The text as introduced · 249 words
89R695 RDS-F By: Thompson H.B. No. 823 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the recovery of exemplary damages based on a compensable death under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Christion Fitzgerald Act. SECTION 2. Section 408.001(b), Labor Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) This section does not prohibit the recovery of exemplary damages by the surviving spouse , children, or parents of, or the estate [ or heirs of the body ] of , a deceased employee whose death was caused by an intentional act or omission of the employer or by the employer's gross negligence. SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a claim for workers' compensation benefits based on a compensable injury that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. A claim based on a compensable injury that occurs before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the compensable injury occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, allowing recovery of exemplary damages by parents or a person's estate for a homicide is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.