AUSTIN—Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR) issued the following statement regarding Senate Bill 28 and House Bill 2826, which require transparency when local governments hire outside attorneys on contingency-fee contracts.

“Local governments must have the ability to contract with private attorneys, and contingency fee contracts based on the successful completion of the government’s case can be appropriate in some cases. At the same time, Texas taxpayers have the right to know the details when a private law firm is handling the government’s work, and they have the right to expect the government will keep the lion’s share of any money recovered in the lawsuit,” TLR General Counsel Lee Parsley said. “These bills bring transparency to the contracting process, keeping law firms accountable to Texas taxpayers and their government clients. It also ensures the best lawyers will be hired at reasonable fees and makes the standards for contingent-fee contracts by local governments consistent with those followed by the state of Texas.”