H.B. No. 3393 aims to amend the Government Code of Texas regarding statutory construction. Key changes include clarifying the meanings of "shall" and "must," with "shall" imposing a duty without indicating discretion, and "must" creating a requirement that either establishes a duty or recognizes a condition precedent. The bill introduces new sections that prohibit courts from considering legislative intent or legislative history when interpreting statutes, mandating that courts enforce the statutory text as written. Additionally, it establishes that grammatical or scrivener's errors do not invalidate a law, and it emphasizes the severability of statutory provisions, ensuring that if part of a statute is found invalid, the remaining provisions remain enforceable.

The bill also includes amendments to existing sections, such as clarifying that a waiver of sovereign immunity must be expressed in clear and unambiguous language. It repeals several existing sections of the Government Code that may conflict with the new provisions. The changes are set to take effect on September 1, 2025. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline statutory interpretation and reinforce the importance of the text of the law over legislative intent or history.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 311.016, Government Code 311.025, Government Code 311.026, Government Code 311.028, Government Code 311.034, Government Code 311.021 (Government Code 311)