By: Canales H.B. No. 1974
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to contingent fee contracts for legal services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2254.101, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 2254.101.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (2)  "Contingent fee contract" means a contract for
  legal services under which the amount or the payment of the fee for
  the services is contingent in whole or in part on the outcome of the
  matter for which the services were obtained. A "contingent fee
  contract" includes an amendment to a contingent fee contract if the
  amendment changes the scope of representation or may result in the
  filing of a lawsuit or the amending of a petition in an existing
  lawsuit.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply to a
  contract or contract amendment signed or entered into on or after
  the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.