The bill, H.B. No. 4688, amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to clarify the civil liability of commercial motor vehicle owners and operators. It introduces new definitions and stipulations regarding the admissibility of evidence related to regulations or standards in civil actions. Specifically, it states that evidence of a defendant's failure to comply with a regulation or standard can be admitted if it is relevant and shows that such failure was a proximate cause of the injury or death in question. Additionally, the bill specifies that an employer's liability for damages caused by an employee operating a commercial vehicle is based solely on the principle of respondeat superior, provided the employer stipulates that the employee was acting within the scope of employment at the time of the incident.

Furthermore, the bill restricts the presentation of certain evidence in the first phase of a bifurcated trial, preventing claimants from introducing ordinary negligence claims against the employer unless the employee's negligence is established. It also repeals several existing subsections related to employer liability. The changes will apply to actions commenced on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025, while ongoing trials will continue under the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Civil Practice and Remedies Code 72.053, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 72.054 (Civil Practice and Remedies Code 72)