Bill > HB113

This bill makes several significant changes to statutory interpretation in Texas, focusing on how courts should approach reading and understanding laws. It clarifies that the word "shall" imposes a duty and is not discretionary, and modifies how courts can interpret statutes by prohibiting them from considering legislative intent or legislative history when determining a law's meaning. The bill requires courts to enforce statutory text as it is written, using the meaning an ordinary English speaker would understand. Additionally, it removes courts' obligation to defer to state agency interpretations of statutes, though agencies' reasonable constructions that don't conflict with plain language can still be considered. The bill also introduces provisions on severability, stating that if part of a law is found invalid, the remaining parts should remain in effect, and it allows courts to interpret statutes with grammatical errors in a way that makes sense to an ordinary reader. The changes apply to both Chapters 311 and 312 of the Government Code and are set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with the goal of creating a more text-focused and literal approach to statutory interpretation that limits judicial discretion in understanding legislative language.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB113