Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2884 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		89R21573 AMF-F
2	2		By: Landgraf H.B. No. 2884
	3	+	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2884:
	4	+	By: Leach C.S.H.B. No. 2884
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7	9		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	10		AN ACT
9	11		relating to the required disclosure of certain financial
10	12		relationships in civil actions regarding the activities of United
11	13		States defense contractors.
12	14		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	15		SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Civil Practice and Remedies
14	16		Code, is amended by adding Chapter 28 to read as follows:
15	17		CHAPTER 28. ACTIONS REGARDING ACTIVITIES OF UNITED STATES DEFENSE
16	18		CONTRACTORS
17	19		Sec. 28.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
18	20		(1) "Defense contractor" means any entity that is
19	21		engaged in the production, manufacturing, or provision of defense
20	22		articles or defense services to the United States Department of
21	23		Defense under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22
22	24		C.F.R. Parts 120-130).
23	25		(2) "Sanctioned or embargoed nation" means any foreign
24	26		nation subject to sanctions or an embargo under the Arms Export
25	27		Control Act (22 U.S.C. Section 2751 et seq.), as determined by the
26	28		United States Department of State.
27	29		Sec. 28.002. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter
28	30		applies only to a civil action regarding the activities of a defense
29	31		contractor, regardless of whether the contractor is a party.
30	32		Sec. 28.003. REQUIRED DISCLOSURES RELATED TO FUNDING OR
31	33		FUNDING SOURCES. (a) In a civil action subject to this chapter, a
32	34		claimant must disclose, as part of initial disclosures required
33	35		under Rule 194, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure:
34	36		(1) whether the claimant or the claimant's attorney
35	37		has received, directly or indirectly, funding or financial support
36	38		from any individual, entity, or government affiliated with a
37	39		sanctioned or embargoed nation; and
38	40		(2) the identity of all sources of funding or
39	41		financial support described by Subdivision (1).
40	42		(b) A claimant has a continuing obligation to supplement the
41	43		disclosures required under this section during the pendency of the
42	44		action with information on the following that occur after the
43	45		initial disclosures are made:
44	46		(1) the claimant or the claimant's attorney receiving,
45	47		directly or indirectly, money from an individual, entity, or
46	48		government affiliated with a sanctioned or embargoed nation; and
47	49		(2) the claimant or the claimant's attorney
48	50		identifying a source of funding or financial support described by
49	51		Subsection (a)(1).
50	52		(c) A claimant must make a disclosure required by this
51	53		section not later than the 10th day after the date the claimant or
52	54		the claimant's attorney receives the money or identifies a source
53	55		of funding or financial support, as applicable.
54	56		(d) A disclosure required by this section must be made under
55	57		oath and filed with the court.
56	58		Sec. 28.004. WITHHOLDING DISCLOSURE PROHIBITED. (a) A
57	59		disclosure required by Section 28.003 may not be delayed, excluded,
58	60		or withheld for any reason, including because of a claim the
59	61		information is privileged or otherwise exempted from disclosure.
60	62		(b) A court may not grant a motion by a claimant to limit the
61	63		disclosure of proprietary or confidential information related to
62	64		money or sources of funding or financial support described by
63	65		Section 28.003.
64	66		Sec. 28.005. SANCTIONS. In addition to any other sanctions
65	67		the court is permitted to impose under law, if a claimant fails to
66	68		comply with this chapter, the court may:
67	69		(1) stay the proceeding until the required disclosure
68	70		is made; or
69	71		(2) dismiss the action with prejudice on a finding of
70	72		wilful noncompliance.
71	73		SECTION 2. Chapter 28, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as
72	74		added by this Act, applies only to an action that is pending in a
73	75		trial court on the effective date of this Act or that is filed on or
74	76		after the effective date of this Act.
75	77		SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
76	78		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
77	79		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
78	80		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
79	81		Act takes effect September 1, 2025.