What happened: The U.S. Virgin Islands has filed a public nuisance and false advertising lawsuit against Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and their local partners over plastic pollution tied to single-use bottles.

Tell me more: Officials allege the companies misled consumers about the recyclability of their packaging while continuing to flood the market with virgin plastic and failing to manage the resulting waste. The lawsuit claims this has contributed to a waste crisis threatening the islands’ environment, public health and tourism economy.

Worth noting: This isn’t the first time these companies have faced such claims. Similar lawsuits have been filed in California and New York—where one was dismissed—raising questions about the growing use of litigation to address broad public policy concerns.

TLR Thoughts: Lawsuits like these represent a concerning misuse of the legal system, targeting businesses for lawful conduct under the guise of a public nuisance. TLR is advocating this session for narrow legislation (SB 779) that will protect the Legislature’s authority to set public policy, while preserving statutory nuisance lawsuits for use when appropriate. SB 779 has passed the Texas Senate. The bill now awaits consideration by the House JCJ Committee.

Read the full article here.

What happened: On May 7, SB 30/HB 4806, common-sense legislation addressing lawsuit abuse in Texas was considered in the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence (JCJ) Committee. The hearing followed Senate passage of the bill in mid-April.

In their own words: Public testimony underscored the “shadow system” that exists between certain personal injury lawyers and certain medical providers, leading victims into a “web of exploitation” designed to inflate medical damages.

• Dee Soule, Texas resident and medical billing expert: “The current system in Texas allows for trial attorneys and medical providers to use victims as ATMs, and I believe that is unacceptable. The truth is, I’m angry, and it needs to stop. HB 4806 is one step in the right direction.”
• Soule also testified: “Victims are often pulled into a shadow system where charges are inflated, relationships are undisclosed, and medical billing is manipulated to support lawsuits, not patient care.”
• Another witness stated: “Bills for routine procedures can go from $1,500 to $150,000 due to the referral network between medical providers and personal injury attorneys.”
  

TLR Thoughts: Witness after witness called attention to a pattern of abuse in Texas’s personal injury system—one where inflated medical bills and hidden referral arrangements enrich a few at the expense of real victims and honest consumers. SB 30/HB 4806 includes meaningful reforms that will close loopholes encouraging manipulation of the system at the expense of Texas small and medium-sized businesses, consumers and courts. 

Read the full press release here.

What happened: Dark-money special interest groups are running deceptive TV ads, texts, mail and social media across Texas to mislead voters, smear lawmakers and block common-sense legal reforms that aim to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits helping to drive up Texans’ insurance rates and the cost of everyday goods and services.

Tell me more: These derogatory campaigns are being bankrolled by powerful personal injury lawyers who are deliberately hiding their identities while pushing false narratives to protect their financial interests and confuse Texas voters. 

TLR Thoughts: Texans see through the big lies and dark money. In fact, more than 1,150 Texans, Texas job creators and associations stand in support of the meaningful reforms included in SB 30 (Schwertner)/HB 4806 (Bonnen) and SB 39 (Birdwell)/HB 4688 (Leach) through the Lone Star Economic Alliance (LSEA). TLR is a founding member of LSEA alongside the Texas Trucking Association and the Texas Food and Fuel Association. Together, TLR and LSEA are working to create a legal system that’s fair, transparent, and focused on relevant facts—not one that rewards manipulation and abuse.

Read the full article here.

What happened: Lawsuit abuse reform is sweeping across the nation, and Florida is one of the states reaping the benefits of these common-sense reforms.

Tell me more: In 2022 and 2023, the Florida Legislature enacted a series of reforms to end frivolous lawsuits and abusive tactics by certain personal injury lawyers while protecting people with legitimate legal claims. The benefits of those reforms are now kicking in.

• Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation announced in February that nearly two-thirds of automobile premiums are declining between 6% and 10.5% this year, depending on the insurer, with more decreases expected as filings continue.
• Additionally, homeowners insurance premiums increased by just 1% on average—the lowest rate in the nation and well below the rate of inflation.

In his words: “Critics claim reform enriches insurance companies, but Florida’s recent rate reductions and market stabilization prove these arguments are baseless. While premiums remain too high and require continued attention, there is no question that ending litigation abuse has made a positive difference.” – Paul Renner, former speaker of the Florida House (2022-24)

TLR Thoughts: As Texas lawmakers consider similar measures this session through SB 30/HB 4806, it’s clear that these reforms are essential to improving Texas’s broken legal system, making insurance more affordable and protecting consumers.

Read the full article here.

What happened: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed into law Senate Bills (SB) 68 and 69—comprehensive tort reform measures aimed at curbing lawsuit abuse. Meanwhile in Texas, similar reforms are advancing through SB 30 by Sen. Charles Schwertner and SB 39 by Sen. Brian Birdwell, each of which has passed the Texas Senate and awaits consideration in the Texas House.

Tell me more: Both SB 30 and SB 39 are among Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priority bills for the 2025 Texas Legislative Session. They are being shepherded through the House by Appropriations Chairman Greg Bonnen and Judiciary Chairman Jeff Leach. 

Why it matters: A vast majority of Texans believe lawsuit abuse is a key factor driving up the price of goods and services and want their legislators to take action to fix the system.

• A recent survey found that 86% of likely Texas voters support medical cost transparency in lawsuits, 79% say legal reform is critical to sustaining the state’s economic growth and 67% say lawsuit abuse drives up everyday costs.

TLR Thoughts: TLR applauds Gov. Kemp and Georgia lawmakers for delivering a comprehensive tort reform package that will restore balance to the state’s civil justice system. Texas has a vital opportunity this session to pass and enact meaningful reforms through SB 30 and SB 39 that will help stabilize insurance markets, rein in meritless lawsuits and preserve Texans’ access to the courts. TLR, alongside the Lone Star Economic Alliance (LSEA), is urging Texas lawmakers to act without delay.

Read the full article here.

What happened: Texas has been ranked the Best State for Business for the 21st year in a row by Chief Executive magazine. 

Tell me more: Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law SB 14 (Texas DOGE) – the first piece of legislation enacted into Texas law this session. The bill passed with bipartisan supermajorities in both the Texas House and Texas Senate, and includes myriad reforms backed by the Coalition for Regulatory Efficiency and Reform, of which TLR is a proud member. 

• Critically, SB 14 will help modernize Texas’s regulatory system and support continued economic growth for Texas.
• The law builds on the Governor’s Small Business Freedom Council’s recommendations and will slash regulations, put stricter standards on new regulations that could be costly to businesses and ensure Texas remains the best state for businesses of all sizes.

In his own words: “Texas offers businesses the freedom to succeed. We will continue to cut red tape and partner with job-creating businesses and innovators to build a stronger, more prosperous Texas for decades to come.” — Gov. Greg Abbott

TLR Thoughts: TLR applauds Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows and members of the Texas Senate and Texas House for their leadership and for taking swift action to reduce the regulatory burden on Texas. 

Read the full article here.

What happened: A growing number of companies—including Tesla, TripAdvisor, Dropbox and Meta—are reincorporating outside of Delaware amid legal unpredictability, prompting Delaware to advance Senate Bill 21, its most significant corporate-law overhaul since 1967.

Tell me more: Delaware has long been favored for its business-friendly laws and over 200 years of corporate case law—which over the years has drawn roughly two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies and 80% of newly public firms—but recent court decisions and franchise taxes have spurred firms to explore alternatives. 

• In 2023, TLR worked hard to ensure the enactment of legislation creating a specialized business court in Texas that would handle complex business-to-business litigation—a major economic development tool for the state—as well as the Fifteenth Court of Appeals, which handles appeals for the business court and important cases involving the State of Texas. By building a judiciary tailored for corporate cases, Texas has positioned itself as a serious contender for incorporation.
  

TLR Thoughts: The creation of the Texas Business Court remains one of the most transformative steps the state has ever taken to strengthen Texas’s economic competitiveness. TLR is working with the Texas Legislature to further enhance the Business Court through HB 40 by Rep. Brooks Landgraf and SB 2883 by Sen. Bryan Hughes, as well as the state’s corporate governance laws through SB 29 by Sen. Bryan Hughes and HB 15 by Rep. Morgan Meyer. Collectively, these efforts will help position Texas as a major challenger to the decades-long dominance of Delaware’s business courts.

Read the full article here.

What happened: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed into law a comprehensive tort reform package aimed at leveling the playing field in courtrooms, stabilizing insurance costs and increasing transparency and fairness in civil litigation.

How it works: The new law reevaluates premises liability standards, truth‑in‑damages calculations for medical costs, bans arbitrary “anchoring” of noneconomic damages and permits a party to bifurcate trials and file a motion to dismiss in lieu of an answer. 

• It also brings transparency to third‑party litigation funding and prohibits hostile foreign actors from exploiting Georgia’s courts.

In his own words: “Today is a victory for the people of our state who for too long were suffering the impacts of an out‑of‑balance legal environment” — Gov. Brian Kemp. 

TLR Thoughts: TLR applauds Gov. Kemp and Georgia’s lawmakers for enacting one of the most meaningful tort reform packages in decades. Georgia’s meaningful reforms will ensure that truly injured victims can recover fair compensation while preventing frivolous lawsuits from driving up costs for businesses and families. TLR—alongside the Lone Star Economic Alliance (LSEA), a business coalition comprised of 1,150 Texas job creators, individuals and associations from every corner of the state—is urging Texas legislators to pass similar reforms through SB 30.

Read the full press release here.

What happened: On April 16, in a major move, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 30 by a vote of 20-11. The common-sense lawsuit reform bill by Sen. Charles Schwertner will bring uniformity to Texas courtrooms by defining the noneconomic damages of pain and suffering and mental anguish, assuring that harmed persons are fully compensated on a fair and reasonable basis. 

Remind me: SB 30 was named among Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top priority bills in March. Upon Senate passage of SB 30, Lt. Gov. Patrick said, “Nuclear verdicts have major financial consequences and can leave individuals and businesses in ruins. These monstrous verdicts drive up insurance costs for Texans and make it harder for businesses to effectively operate in Texas. I thank Sen. Schwertner for his leadership on this critical issue.”

Tell me more: Critically, SB 30 would limit the evidence of medical damages that plaintiffs may submit at trial to 300% of the 2025 Medicare reimbursement rate with an adjustment for inflation. The provision is meant to prevent lawyers from “colluding with providers who over-diagnose, overbill and overtreat” victims to come up with inflated medical charges. Additionally, SB 30 makes clear that noneconomic awards cannot be used to punish defendants, make an example to others or serve a social good.

TLR Thoughts: Senate passage of SB 30 is a meaningful step toward real reform—and a win for every Texan. The bill now heads to the Texas House, where it will be carried by Rep. Greg Bonnen.

Read the full article here.

What happened: The Texas House last week passed two major priorities of the House Committee on Government Efficiency and Reform (DOGE): SB 14 and HB 12.

Remind me: Texas is the fifth most regulated state in the nation, with over 274,000 restrictions as of 2023. 

• In February, Jeff Rose, former Chief Justice of the Third Court of Appeals, wrote an op-ed calling for meaningful regulatory reform in Texas.

Tell me more: SB 14 creates a Regulatory Efficiency Office to streamline agency rules, requires plain language in all regulations, ensures agencies don’t have an unfair advantage in court and establishes a user-friendly public website. It passed the House 97-51, with one member present not voting on April 9, and is now on the Governor’s desk.

• HB 12 enhances the Sunset review process by adding efficiency audits and tying regulations to agency deliverables. It passed the House 149-0 on April 8 and was referred to the Senate Business & Commerce Committee on April 14.

TLR Thoughts: Texas’s excessive regulatory framework threatens its economic competitiveness, especially for small businesses and consumers, which is why TLR is part of the Coalition for Regulatory Efficiency and Reform (CRER). Texas is the best place for business. Overly burdensome licensing regulations shouldn’t get in the way.

What happened: A new op-ed by Erling President Mike Embertson urges the importance of SB 30 and HB 4806 to restore transparency and fairness to Texas’s legal system. 

Tell me more: Routine fender benders are turning into costly legal battles, forcing businesses and insurers into massive settlements—regardless of fault or injury. Lawsuit abuse doesn’t just impact the businesses involved—it affects every Texan. Without reform, more local employers will be forced to make difficult decisions, like laying off workers or shutting down entirely.

TLR Thoughts: SB 30 and HB 4806 offer a smart, targeted approach to protecting the future of Texas jobs, families and the state’s economic stability. When minor accidents result in outsized settlements, everyone pays the price. 

Read the full article here.

What happened: Protecting American Consumers Together (PACT) has released a new survey of likely Texas voters gauging their views on the rising cost of living and the impact of lawsuit abuse on everyday expenses. The results: a vast majority of Texans believe lawsuit abuse is a key factor driving up the price of goods and services and want their legislators to take action to fix the system. 

By the numbers:

• 80% say the cost of living has increased in the past year.
• 79% believe reforming the legal system is key to sustaining Texas’s economic growth.
• 67% say lawsuit abuse drives up everyday costs.
• 86% support medical cost transparency in lawsuits.
• 71% support more regulation of billboard attorneys.
• 63% support a “loser pays” system.
  

TLR Thoughts: Texas voters overwhelmingly support commonsense reforms to fix a broken legal system and protect consumers from hidden costs. Texas lawmakers have an opportunity this session to ensure a more transparent legal system – and to curb the unnecessary and meritless lawsuits that increase the cost of doing business in Texas – by passing SB 30 by Sen. Charles Schwertner and its companion, HB 4806 by Rep. Greg Bonnen.

Read the full press release here.