Monitoring the SessionSB 1516
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 attorney's fees in an action involving the exercise of certain constitutional rights.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
The word incurred comes out. Free lawyer? The defendant still collects reasonable fees.
This bill changes the Texas anti-SLAPP law, which lets people quickly toss lawsuits aimed at their speech, petition or association rights. When a court dismisses such a lawsuit, it must still award attorney's fees to the person who was sued, but the bill removes the words saying those fees must be ones 'incurred' in the defense. On the ground, a defendant could collect reasonable fees for the defense even if they did not personally pay or owe them, such as when a lawyer worked for free, starting with lawsuits filed on or after September 1, 2025.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 1843 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R SB 1843 (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 Feb 21, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-SB1516 · 2025-02-21
relating to the award of attorney's fees in an action involving the exercise of certain constitutional rights.
The word incurred comes out. Free lawyer? The defendant still collects reasonable fees.
This bill changes the Texas anti-SLAPP law, which lets people quickly toss lawsuits aimed at their speech, petition or association rights. When a court dismisses such a lawsuit, it must still award attorney's fees to the person who was sued, but the bill removes the words saying those fees must be ones 'incurred' in the defense. On the ground, a defendant could collect reasonable fees for the defense even if they did not personally pay or owe them, such as when a lawyer worked for free, starting with lawsuits filed on or after September 1, 2025.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
The bill widens the mandatory fee award to people who beat lawsuits targeting their speech, raising the cost of filing those suits.
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 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.
$129,500.00
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 · Nov 27, 2024 to May 12, 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: 100990378, 101033698, 101040111, 101052272.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$129,500.00
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 · Nov 27, 2024 to May 12, 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: 100990378, 101033698, 101040111, 101052272.
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 Sen. Johnson, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 20, 2023: Referred to State Affairs
Relating to the award of attorney's fees in an action involving the exercise of certain constitutional rights.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas Senate · Filed Feb 21, 2025
03/06/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
HB 2966 by Meyer (identical)
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Lawyers
ATTORNEY'S FEES
The text as introduced · 206 words
89R938 MZM-D By: Johnson S.B. No. 1516 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the award of attorney's fees in an action involving the exercise of certain constitutional rights. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 27.009(a), Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), if the court orders dismissal of a legal action under this chapter, the court: (1) shall award to the moving party court costs and reasonable attorney's fees for [ incurred in ] defending against the legal action; and (2) may award to the moving party sanctions against the party who brought the legal action as the court determines sufficient to deter the party who brought the legal action from bringing similar actions described in this chapter. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an action filed on or after the effective date of this Act. An action filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.