H.B. No. 3393 aims to amend various sections of the Government Code related to statutory construction in Texas. Key changes include clarifying the meanings of "shall" and "must," with "shall" imposing a duty without indicating discretion, and "must" imposing a requirement that creates a duty or 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 that clarify the interpretation of amendments and the relationship between general and special provisions. It specifies that a waiver of sovereign immunity must be clear and unambiguous, and it outlines jurisdictional requirements for suits against governmental entities. Furthermore, several sections of the Government Code are repealed, and the act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.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.

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)