What happened: Governors and lawmakers in Georgia, South Carolina and Texas are focusing on the ways in which their states’ legal climates are significant drivers of the cost of living and doing business.
Tell me more: In Texas, lawmakers are considering legislation that aim to crack down on the ability to bring meritless lawsuits and win “nuclear verdicts:” SB 30 by Sen. Charles Schwertner and its companion, HB 4806 by Rep. Greg Bonnen, and SB 39 by Sen. Brian Birdwell and its companion, HB 4688 by Jeff Leach.
- On March 31, the Senate State Affairs Committee heard SB 30. Job creators from every corner of Texas converged at the Capitol to testify in support of the bill, explaining how skyrocketing insurance costs are crippling their businesses. Ultimately, higher costs are passed through to consumers of goods and services.
- Today, SB 39 and HB 4688 are being heard in the Senate Transportation Committee and in the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence, respectively.
TLR Thoughts: Runaway lawsuits are placing Texas businesses of all sizes, across all sectors, in an extremely tenuous position. Texas job creators are being forced to raise prices, lay off employees or close their doors – ultimately harming the Texans these businesses serve every day. TLR is proud to work alongside the Lone Star Economic Alliance – a coalition of over 1,150 Texas businesses, individuals and business associations – to address the dire issue through the reforms included in these four bills.
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