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HB 2386

Relating to the licensing and regulation of certain legal paraprofessionals and establishing a legal paraprofessional licensing pilot program; requiring an occupational license; imposing fees.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Barbara Gervin-Hawkins

Texas bill creates occupational licensing and pilot program for legal paraprofessionals, charging fees to regulate previously unregulated profession.

Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
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Bill Summary · HB 2386

Legislative bill overview

HB 2386 proposes creating a new licensing framework for legal paraprofessionals in Texas and establishing a pilot program to regulate this profession. The bill requires occupational licensure for certain paraprofessionals and authorizes fee collection to support the regulatory program.

Why is this important

Legal paraprofessionals currently operate in a largely unregulated space, which creates both consumer protection gaps and market uncertainty. Formal licensing could improve access to affordable legal services while establishing quality and ethical standards, though it may also increase barriers to entry and service costs for consumers.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and definition: Disagreement over which legal paraprofessionals qualify for licensing and what specific tasks they can perform independently
  • Bar association opposition: Texas State Bar may resist expanded paraprofessional authority as potentially conflicting with attorney monopolies and consumer protection
  • Cost and accessibility tradeoff: Licensing fees and compliance requirements could reduce affordable legal service options for low-income Texans while simultaneously improving accountability
  • Pilot program design: Questions about geographic scope, duration, evaluation metrics, and whether successful pilots will expand statewide

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

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