SB687

SB687 brings registered professional land surveyors and licensed state land surveyors into existing rules limiting how construction and local-government service contracts shift responsibility for losses and legal defense. It also requires the ordinary professional standard of care. This is not immunity from a surveyor’s own negligence. Signed May 30, 2025, the law took effect September 1, 2025 and applies only to contracts, covenants or promises entered into on or after that date; earlier agreements remain governed by earlier law. Sections 1–9; Official history.

For covered construction contracts, a contractor cannot be required to cover a surveyor’s specified defective plans or professional negligence causing personal injury, death, property damage or related expenses. Conversely, a surveyor cannot be required to cover an owner’s negligence under the specified design-services rule—but that rule excludes contracts for single-family or multifamily residences. Defense obligations based on an owner’s negligence, fault or breach of contract are also restricted; reasonable attorney fees may still be reimbursed in proportion to the surveyor’s liability. Section 2, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 130.002(a)–(c).

The defense-duty restriction has exceptions for permitted additional-insured coverage, combined design-and-construction service contracts, and defense against negligent-hiring claims. Chapter 130 does not govern insurance contracts or workers’ compensation agreements. Subject to the specific protections, it preserves owner-related liability arrangements and does not cover indemnity for other negligent acts or contractor/subcontractor negligence. Sections 2, 5 and 6; Unchanged design-build exception, subsection (e); Insurance and workers’ compensation exclusion; Retained owner exception.

For local-government service contracts, the law limits requiring a surveyor to cover the agency’s losses to damage caused by the surveyor or specified associated or controlled parties through negligence, intentional torts, intellectual-property infringement or nonpayment of subcontractors or suppliers. It restricts defense obligations for agency-related fault, permits proportionate attorney fees and general-liability additional-insured coverage, and requires ordinary professional care and prudent speed. Contract terms changing that care standard are unenforceable, but scope, fees and schedule conditions remain enforceable. “Governmental agency” here means municipalities, counties, school districts and other defined local political subdivisions—not every state agency. Section 7, Local Government Code 271.904; Incorporated agency definition.