Monitoring the SessionSB 1975
Did not pass
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 venue in certain actions involving a contract for an improvement to real property.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Contract clauses forcing suits outside Texas are void.
The bill voids any clause in a Texas construction or real-property-improvement contract that forces a lawsuit involving a Texas-resident contractor, subcontractor, or materials supplier to be filed outside Texas. When such a clause is voided, the case must be filed in a Texas county where the defendant lives, where the claim arose, or where the property sits, unless the parties agree on a different venue after the dispute starts. It covers contracts signed on or after September 1, 2025, so Texas builders and suppliers can no longer be pushed into out-of-state courts by contract fine print.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 2879 by Rep. Oliverson (Vetoed) and this bill (Did not pass). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 2879 by Rep. Oliverson (Vetoed). 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.STALLED AFTER COMMITTEE. Voted out of the Senate Jurisprudence committee 5-0 on Apr 9, 2025. Never placed on a calendar. The bill died.
89R-SB1975 · 2025-03-06
relating to venue in certain actions involving a contract for an improvement to real property.
Contract clauses forcing suits outside Texas are void.
The bill voids any clause in a Texas construction or real-property-improvement contract that forces a lawsuit involving a Texas-resident contractor, subcontractor, or materials supplier to be filed outside Texas. When such a clause is voided, the case must be filed in a Texas county where the defendant lives, where the claim arose, or where the property sits, unless the parties agree on a different venue after the dispute starts. It covers contracts signed on or after September 1, 2025, so Texas builders and suppliers can no longer be pushed into out-of-state courts by contract fine print.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Fiscal note · version I · April 8, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors report through Friends of Paul Bettencourt.
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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 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.
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
2 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.
Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.
Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Fiscal note · version I · April 8, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
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. Oliverson, different lead author · Vetoed · same text
Introduced textLast action, Jun 15, 2023: Vetoed by the Governor
Relating to venue in certain actions involving a contract for an improvement to real property.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas Senate · Filed Mar 6, 2025
04/10/2025 S Committee report printed and distributed: Apr 10 2025 5:30PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Jurisprudence · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee
HB 1139 by Oliverson (identical)
Business & Commerce--General
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Courts--Civil Procedure
Property Interests--Real Property
The text as introduced · 221 words
89R5447 MZM-F By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 1975 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to venue in certain actions involving a contract for an improvement to real property. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 15, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 15.021 to read as follows: Sec. 15.021. CONTRACTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO REAL PROPERTY. (a) A venue provision in a contract for an improvement to real property located in this state that requires an action involving a contractor, subcontractor, or materialman who is a resident of this state to be brought outside this state is void as a matter of public policy. (b) To the extent that a venue provision in a contract is void under this section, unless the parties stipulate to another venue after the dispute arises, an action arising out of the contract shall be brought only in this state in the county in which: (1) the defendant resides; (2) the cause of action accrued; or (3) the property that is the subject of the litigation is located. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a contract entered into on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.