Bill > HB4806

This bill comprehensively reforms civil litigation procedures and damages in Texas, with significant changes to how health care expenses, medical evidence, and non-economic damages are handled in civil actions. The bill introduces new provisions that limit the amount of recoverable health care expenses by basing them on actual payments made by third-party payors or using a median payment rate from the Texas All Payor Claims Database, requires detailed disclosures about medical treatments and referrals, and establishes strict standards for awarding non-economic damages like pain and suffering. The bill defines specific criteria for what constitutes physical pain and emotional anguish, requiring jury unanimity and a rational connection between the injury and monetary compensation. Additionally, the bill modifies procedures for introducing medical evidence in court, restricting how health care providers can testify about the reasonableness of their charges, and establishes new guidelines for calculating and awarding exemplary (punitive) damages. These changes aim to create more predictable and standardized approaches to damages in civil litigation, with particular focus on medical expense recovery and non-economic damage awards. The bill will apply only to civil actions commenced on or after its effective date, which requires a two-thirds vote in the Texas Legislature to take immediate effect, otherwise becoming law on September 1, 2025.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4806