SB 2708
Hagenbuch Bill Bars People Unlawfully Present From Filing Civil Suits
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 19, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the right of an individual unlawfully present in the United States to commence a civil action.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
How does a court check someone’s status? The bill doesn’t say.
The bill adds a new chapter to the Texas civil lawsuit code that says a person unlawfully present in the United States, as defined by federal immigration law, may not start a civil lawsuit. It touches people living in Texas without lawful immigration status, and anyone they might otherwise sue. Starting September 1, 2025, Texas courts would be told not to let these people file civil cases, though the bill does not say how a court checks someone's status.
Labels
Labels: QUICK READ: 124 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 124 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2708 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the right of an individual unlawfully present in the United States to commence a civil action.
WHAT IT DOES
How does a court check someone’s status? The bill doesn’t say.
The bill adds a new chapter to the Texas civil lawsuit code that says a person unlawfully present in the United States, as defined by federal immigration law, may not start a civil lawsuit. It touches people living in Texas without lawful immigration status, and anyone they might otherwise sue. Starting September 1, 2025, Texas courts would be told not to let these people file civil cases, though the bill does not say how a court checks someone's status.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
The bill closes the Texas civil courthouse door to people unlawfully present in the United States, which shields anyone they would sue from those lawsuits.
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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 15, 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$50,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC$25,000.00
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 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.
Report IDs: 101058859.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 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.
Report IDs: 101058859.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 19, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 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
Subjects
Aliens
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Courts--Civil Procedure
Text
The text as introduced · 124 words
89R16180 AJA-D By: Hagenbuch S.B. No. 2708 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the right of an individual unlawfully present in the United States to commence a civil action. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Chapter 5A to read as follows: CHAPTER 5A. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION Sec. 5A.001. ACTION BY UNLAWFULLY PRESENT INDIVIDUAL PROHIBITED. An individual who is unlawfully present in the United States according to the terms of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.), interpreted consistently with federal law, may not commence a civil action. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.