Charles Schwertner, state senator for Texas District 5, said that Senate Bill 30 aims to restore transparency and fairness without limiting damages or setting rates.
"The bill does not set medical billing rates or prevent a plaintiff from recovering compensatory damages," said Schwertner, State Senator of Texas Senate District 05. "SB 30 is about returning "transparency and fairness" to Texas' legal system."
According to a blog post on Lone Star Economic Alliance, Senate Bill 30, introduced in March 2025, seeks to address inflated medical damages in Texas civil lawsuits and limit "nuclear verdicts" impacting individuals and businesses. The bill intends to define noneconomic damages and discourage collusion between plaintiff attorneys and healthcare providers. This legislative effort follows a 2023 Texas Supreme Court case that overturned a $15 million noneconomic damages award, prompting the legislature to establish clearer legal standards. With support from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and the Texas Senate, SB 30 is being positioned as a reform aimed at restoring fairness and integrity to the state's legal system.
Schwertner delivering his statement in a Senate hearing on March 31
| X.com
A study by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform indicates that Texas ranks among the top five states for nuclear verdicts, with 130 personal injury and wrongful death cases resulting in $16 billion in awards from 2013 to 2022. The study highlights how "anchoring" tactics—where attorneys propose arbitrary high-dollar damage amounts—have significantly inflated jury awards. An example cited involved a $39 million verdict in an auto accident case after a plaintiff's lawyer suggested a symbolic per-mile damage figure; this was later overturned by the Texas Supreme Court due to improper tactics. These excessive awards are said to contribute to higher insurance premiums and consumer costs while undermining fairness in the legal system.
A report from the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) reveals that Texas is a major hub for legal services advertising, with Dallas and Houston ranking among the top ten U.S. media markets for spending on these ads in 2024. Dallas saw approximately $69.8 million spent on 622,212 ads, while Houston accounted for over $56.6 million on more than 411,000 ads. These figures reflect a broader national increase in trial lawyer advertising expenditures, which reached $2.5 billion across the U.S. last year—more than double what pizza restaurants spent.
The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) and Munich Re US released a survey indicating that most Americans believe certain plaintiff lawyer tactics contribute to rising insurance and consumer goods costs. The Harris Poll conducted among over 2,000 U.S. adults revealed that 69% think third-party litigation funding (TPLF) and jury anchoring increase insurance costs, while 66% say these practices raise prices of everyday items. Additionally, 77% agree that allowing foreign investors to participate in TPLF could pose a national security threat.
Senator Schwertner is described as a lifelong conservative Republican representing Senate District 5 since 2013. He chairs the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce and the Sunset Advisory Commission, influencing policy on utilities, insurance, and finance matters. As a practicing physician, Schwertner has advocated for significant reforms on issues such as Constitutional Carry, mental health access, foster care improvements, and small business tax relief.