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Bill

HB 113

Relating to statutory construction, including restrictions on the use of certain aids to construction.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Greg Bonnen and 14 co-sponsors

Texas bill restricting courts' use of legislative history and interpretive aids in statutory construction, mandating stricter textualist interpretation methods.

Received from the House
#courts--general(i0160) #legislature(i0520)
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Bill Summary · HB 113

Legislative bill overview

HB 113 modifies how Texas courts interpret statutes by restricting the use of certain legislative aids in statutory construction. The bill limits reliance on legislative history, committee reports, and other interpretive tools that courts traditionally use beyond the plain text of the statute itself. This represents a shift toward stricter textualist interpretation methods in Texas jurisprudence.

Why is this important

How courts interpret laws directly affects what those laws actually mean in practice. By limiting interpretive aids, this bill could change outcomes in litigation, regulatory enforcement, and administrative decisions across Texas. It may create more predictable statutory interpretation but could also eliminate nuance that legislative history sometimes provides for genuinely ambiguous provisions.

Potential points of contention

  • Textualism vs. legislative intent: Critics argue that ignoring legislative history can produce absurd results when statutory language is genuinely ambiguous, while supporters contend that courts should stick to what lawmakers actually wrote rather than inferred intent
  • Impact on judicial discretion: The bill constrains how judges approach interpretation, which some view as necessary clarity and others see as inappropriate legislative micromanagement of the judiciary
  • Differential effects across industries: Heavily regulated sectors and businesses relying on established interpretive precedents may face uncertainty if courts abruptly shift methodology

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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