84R1790 CAE-F
 
  By: Farrar H.B. No. 230
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to recovery of attorney's fees in certain civil cases.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 38.001, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 38.001.  RECOVERY OF ATTORNEY'S FEES. (a)  Except as
  provided by Subsection (b), a [A] person may recover reasonable
  attorney's fees from an individual, [or] corporation, or other
  legal entity, in addition to the amount of a valid claim and costs,
  if the claim is for:
               (1)  rendered services;
               (2)  performed labor;
               (3)  furnished material;
               (4)  freight or express overcharges;
               (5)  lost or damaged freight or express;
               (6)  killed or injured stock;
               (7)  a sworn account; or
               (8)  an oral or written contract.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not authorize the recovery of
  attorney's fees from the state, an agency or institution of the
  state, or a political subdivision of the state.  This section does
  not affect any other statute regarding the recovery of attorney's
  fees from the state, an agency or institution of the state, or a
  political subdivision of the state.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an award of attorney's fees in an action commenced on or after
  the effective date of this Act. An award of attorney's fees in an
  action commenced before the effective date of this Act is governed
  by the law applicable to the award immediately before the effective
  date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.