2025 · Regular session · House bill
HB1922
HB1922 says a covered construction-defect claim accrues, for Government Code Chapter 2272 purposes only, on the U.S.
Official caption: Relating to the accrual of a cause of action for purposes of certain laws governing certain construction liability claims.
Official report lists House author(s): Dean, Leach, Dutton, Hayes, Landgraf. This does not identify sponsors or amendment drafters.
Bill explanation published · Version and amendment review scope is stated below · Individual amendment records may not be separately annotated.
Bill highlights
Selected points from the published explanation. Follow each point to its source-linked context; conditions and limits may matter.
- HB1922 says a covered construction-defect claim accrues, for Government Code Chapter 2272 purposes only, on the U.S.
- Chapter 2272 concerns specified property-damage claims, including related indemnity or contribution claims, asserted by a government entity with an interest in an affected public building or public work, against a contractor, subcontractor, supplier or design professional.
- The existing report requirement calls for certified mail, return receipt requested, identifying the specific defect, the structure's condition and relevant modifications, maintenance or repairs.
- The new rule expressly does not change the insurance “occurrence” date or the accrual date used for statutes of limitations or repose—laws that can bar an old claim.
What does it do?
HB1922 says a covered construction-defect claim accrues, for Government Code Chapter 2272 purposes only, on the U.S. Postal Service postmark date of the required defect report. “Accrues” identifies when a legal claim arises for the stated statutory purpose. The rule uses the postmark date—not the date the defect was discovered, the report was received, or a lawsuit was filed. Final law, Section 1.
Chapter 2272 concerns specified property-damage claims, including related indemnity or contribution claims, asserted by a government entity with an interest in an affected public building or public work, against a contractor, subcontractor, supplier or design professional. It is not a general rule for all construction lawsuits. The chapter excludes personal-injury, survival and wrongful-death claims; residential construction covered by Property Code Chapter 27; Texas Department of Transportation contracts; projects receiving state or federal highway funds; and the specified civil-works projects. Government Code 2272.001–2272.002.
The existing report requirement calls for certified mail, return receipt requested, identifying the specific defect, the structure’s condition and relevant modifications, maintenance or repairs. The chapter also provides a pre-suit inspection-and-correction process. HB1922 adds the accrual-date rule; it does not newly create those existing reporting and repair obligations. Government Code 2272.003–2272.004.
The new rule expressly does not change the insurance “occurrence” date or the accrual date used for statutes of limitations or repose—laws that can bar an old claim. Mailing a report therefore does not, under HB1922 itself, reset those deadlines. Chapter 2272’s separate existing provision for pausing certain limitations or repose periods remains distinct. The act took effect September 1, 2025. Final law, Sections 1–2; Government Code 2272.005.
What changed along the way?
The introduced, House committee, House-passed, Senate committee and enrolled versions contain the same operative text. The official amendment index reports no amendments. Both the postmark rule and the explicit protection of other accrual and insurance dates survived unchanged. Versions; amendments; history.
For the full amendment record, open the official amendment index.
Official bill versions
Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.
Who could benefit—and who could bear the costs?
Public owners and construction parties gain a specific reference date for applying this chapter, potentially reducing disputes about that date. Government entities still must follow the applicable pre-suit process, and construction parties still face the existing inspection, correction and liability framework. Neither liability nor insurance coverage is guaranteed by a postmark.
The May 9, 2025 fiscal note anticipates no significant state or local fiscal impact, assuming any costs can be absorbed with existing resources. It provides no dollar amount or separate two-year or five-year forecast and does not estimate a particular contractor’s litigation costs.
Official sources
- Bill history and latest recorded action
- Bill versions, analyses and fiscal notes
- Action history and votes
- Amendment index
Catalog report retrieved 2026-10-25. Check the official record for corrections or later changes.
