AUSTIN – The Texas House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee has passed Senate Bill 30, a piece of legislation seeking to deflate inflated medical damages in civil actions.
Senate Bill 30 was voted out of the committee May 21.
The Lone Star Economic Alliance, which launched a six-figure multimedia advertising campaign in support of SB 30, maintains the bill will stop the manipulation and wrongful inflation of medical damages by personal injury lawyers and collaborative healthcare providers.
A coalition of 1,200 Texas job creators, LSEA says the bill’s reforms will reduce the pressure to settle meritless claims, bringing fairness and accountability back to the courtroom by shedding light on improper lawyer-provider coordination while arming juries with market-based evidence about the true value of medical services.
“These critical reforms directly address the rising wave of abusive lawsuits that have driven up costs for every Texan, disrupted operations, and threatened the viability of businesses across Texas,” LSEA said in a statement. “Predictability in the legal system is essential for growth, investment, and job creation.
“Texas is known as the best state for business. Unfortunately, our legal system has become a liability in an otherwise strong pro-business climate, and if we fail to fix it, we threaten the competitive advantages that generations of Texans have worked hard to build.
LSEA commended the House JCJ Committee and Chair Jeff Leach for recognizing the urgent need for reform.
“Their action today moves Texas closer to a legal system that supports economic growth, protects employers from abuse, and ensures justice is served,” the statement reads.
Part of SB30 was in response to a 2023 Texas Supreme Court decision wiping out a $15 million award in a wrongful death lawsuit involving an 18-wheeler collision that cost four people their lives.
A jury had awarded $16.8 million to the plaintiffs, $15 million of which was for noneconomic damages.
Justices held the award was excessive, opining that nothing in the record demonstrated a rational connection between the injuries suffered and the amount awarded.
