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2025 · Regular session · House bill
HB4157
HB4157 expands Texas's commercial space-flight liability framework by removing the exclusion of crew from the definition of a space-flight participant.
Official caption: Relating to liability protections for commercial space flight and exploration.
Official report lists House author(s): Bonnen. 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.
- HB4157 expands Texas's commercial space-flight liability framework by removing the exclusion of crew from the definition of a space-flight participant.
- It also removes the competent-witness signature requirement from the statutory participant agreement and warning.
- A new provision expressly makes reciprocal claims waivers under 14 C.F.R.
- The law took effect September 1, 2025, and applies only to causes of action accruing on or after that date.
What does it do?
HB4157 expands Texas’s commercial space-flight liability framework by removing the exclusion of crew from the definition of a space-flight participant. An individual carried aboard a spacecraft, launch vehicle or reentry vehicle can now fall within that definition even when working as crew.
It also removes the competent-witness signature requirement from the statutory participant agreement and warning. The agreement still must be written, generally separate from other agreements except another warning, consent or assumption-of-risk statement, printed in at least 10-point bold type, and signed by the participant on behalf of the participant and the listed successors and representatives. The warning itself is not abolished.
A new provision expressly makes reciprocal claims waivers under 14 C.F.R. Section 440.17 effective and enforceable in Texas, including waivers by participating parties’ contractors, subcontractors and customers. These are arrangements to allocate specified losses among participants, not a declaration that space flight is risk-free.
The law took effect September 1, 2025, and applies only to causes of action accruing on or after that date. Earlier causes of action remain governed by earlier law.
What changed along the way?
The introduced bill, House committee report, engrossed text, Senate committee printing and final law have the same operative provisions. The amendment index lists no amendments. The official history records the governor’s June 20 signature.
This changes an existing liability framework, rather than creating immunity from scratch. Civil Practice and Remedies Code Sections 100A.002-.004 already contain participant-injury protections and enforceable agreements, with conditions and exceptions. HB4157 does not delete the exceptions for intentionally caused participant injuries or gross negligence showing willful or wanton disregard for participant safety, or the preservation of governmental enforcement of valid statutes and regulations.
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?
Space-flight businesses and their contracting partners gain clearer statutory recognition of covered waivers and a simpler signature process. Extending the participant definition to crew can also extend the liability protections applicable to their injuries, potentially limiting their ability to recover damages when the statutory requirements are met. Removing a witness does not remove the participant’s signature or the remaining warning requirements.
The latest fiscal note anticipated no significant fiscal impact for the state or local governments, with state costs absorbed using existing resources. It did not estimate changes in private insurance premiums, litigation costs or compensation for injuries.
Review boundary: This describes HB4157’s changes, not whether a particular waiver bars a particular claim. Federal Section 440.17 has its own scope and exceptions, including willful misconduct; the January 2025 edition also includes a time-limited provision for participant-licensee waivers. This briefing does not treat every federal waiver provision as permanently unchanged or waive the rights of every bystander.
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.
