Texas Senate Bill SB1796

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 3/3/25

Caption

Relating to statutory construction.

Impact

If enacted, SB1796 would modify several existing statutes, primarily around Sections 311 and 312 of the Government Code. It introduces provisions that prohibit courts from consulting legislative history or individual legislator statements to ascertain the intent behind laws. This legislative approach aims to enforce a more predictable and stable legal framework, as the clarity and consistency of statutory language will take precedence over potentially ambiguous legislative intent. This translates into a more straightforward application of laws since judges would be binding their decisions strictly to the language as published in statutes.

Summary

SB1796 proposes significant amendments to the Texas Government Code, specifically addressing how statutes are interpreted in courts. The bill's primary objective is to modify the standards for statutory construction, establishing clear guidelines that restrict judicial interpretation to the text of the law as it is written. This change seeks to eliminate the practice of 'intentionalism,' wherein courts consider legislative intent behind a statute during interpretation, thereby focusing solely on the text itself as understood by an ordinary speaker of English. Proponents argue that this will create clearer legal standards and reduce judicial discretion in interpreting laws.

Contention

However, the bill has drawn contention among legal experts and lawmakers who argue that removing the ability to consider legislative intent undermines judicial checks and balances. Critics contend that such a measure could lead to unjust legal outcomes, as the nuances of lawmaking, which often reflect broader societal values and intentions, would be disregarded. They fear that it may result in strict literal interpretations that could ignore the spirit or purpose behind the legislation, especially in complex legal situations. This perspective raises important questions about the balance between textualism and intentionalism in judicial processes.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Government Code

• Chapter 311. Code Construction Act
  • Section: New Section
  • Section: 025
  • Section: 026
  • Section: 028

• Chapter 312. Construction Of Laws
  • Section: New Section