BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2760

By: Villalobos

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law authorizes a party aggrieved by a final decision of the Texas Workforce Commission in an unemployment benefits dispute claim to seek judicial review in a court of competent jurisdiction, but the existing statute does not explicitly specify which courts are eligible. The bill author has informed the committee that this ambiguity has caused confusion and inconsistencies in where cases can be filed. H.B. 2760 seeks to address this issue by specifying where parties may seek judicial review of a final decision in an unemployment benefits dispute.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2760 amends the Labor Code to change the court in which a party aggrieved by a final decision of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) in a benefits dispute claim under the Texas Unemployment Compensation Act may bring an action to obtain judicial review of the decision against TWC from a court of competent jurisdiction to a county court at law or district court.

H.B. 2760 applies only to judicial review of a TWC decision that becomes final on or after the bill's effective date. Judicial review of a TWC decision that becomes final before the bill's effective date is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.