Victims’ Rights Under Assault: How a Dangerous Bill Was Defeated, and Why the Fight for Fairness Isn’t Over

Every time the Texas Legislature meets, a battle is waged over the rights of ordinary citizens. On one side are everyday Texans who have been injured through no fault of their own. On the other hand, there are powerful insurance companies and corporate lobbyists determined to limit their responsibility and pay victims as little as possible. The recently failed Senate Bill 30 was the latest front in this ongoing war.

While its supporters claimed it was about “reform,” this bill was a thinly veiled attempt to stack the deck in favor of insurance carriers and deny injured Texans the fair compensation they deserve. This article explains what this dangerous proposal would have done, celebrates its defeat, and shows you how to protect your rights from future attacks.

The Insurance Industry’s Playbook: What Was Senate Bill 30?

Senate Bill 30 (SB 30) was an aggressive piece of legislation designed to fundamentally change how injured victims are compensated for their medical care. The core idea was to stop juries from seeing the full, billed amount of a victim’s medical expenses. Instead, it proposed to cap recoverable damages at a much lower figure, tied to what insurance companies typically pay.

In reality, this was a plan to hide the true cost of an injury from the very people tasked with determining justice: a jury of our peers. By preventing jurors from seeing the full financial impact of a car wreck or a serious fall, the bill aimed to artificially drive down awards, saving insurance companies money at the expense of injured families.

How SB 30 Would Have Harmed Victims

Had it become law, SB 30 would have created devastating new hurdles for Texans seeking justice:

• Leaving Victims in Debt: The bill would have capped the recovery of medical expenses, often for less than what a hospital or doctor actually charged. This could have left injury victims personally responsible for thousands of dollars in remaining medical debt, even after winning their case.
• Blinding the Jury: Juries rely on evidence to make fair decisions. SB 30 would have forced them to wear a blindfold, hiding the true medical costs from their view. When juries don’t see the full extent of the medical bills, they are far less likely to award fair compensation for non-economic damages like pain, suffering, and the life-altering impact of an injury.
• Denying Access to Care: Many doctors agree to treat accident victims on the condition that they will be paid from a future settlement or verdict. By creating uncertainty and limiting what could be recovered, SB 30 would have discouraged doctors from providing this critical care, leaving injured people with fewer treatment options.

Simply put, the bill was designed to tilt the scales of justice heavily in favor of insurance giants and corporate defendants.

A Victory for Everyday Texans: Why the Bill Failed

Thankfully, SB 30 was defeated. Despite passing the Senate, the bill stalled in the House of Representatives. Principled lawmakers from both parties stood up for the rights of their constituents and recognized the bill for what it was: an attack on the constitutional right to a trial by jury.

These representatives amended the bill to restore a jury’s ability to see and weigh all the evidence, a change that the bill’s corporate backers refused to accept. Unable to reach a compromise that would strip away victims’ rights, the bill’s supporters let it die as the legislative session ended. This was a significant victory for fairness and justice in Texas.

The Fight Isn’t Over: Your Voice is Needed

The defeat of SB 30 is a reason to be encouraged, but not complacent. The insurance lobby is well-funded and relentless. They will be back next session with a new bill number, but the same goal: to limit your rights and protect their profits.

This is not a partisan issue; it is a people issue. The right to hold a wrongdoer accountable in front of a jury of your peers is a cornerstone of our justice system. We cannot allow powerful special interests to dismantle it piece by piece.

Your voice is the most powerful defense against these attacks. We urge you to take action now to protect the rights of all Texans.

1. Find Your Representatives: Identify your Texas State Senator and State Representative. You can easily find them using the “Who Represents Me?” feature on the Texas Legislature’s website.
2. Contact Their Office: Call or email your representatives. Let them know you are a constituent and that you expect them to protect your 7th Amendment right to a trial by jury.
3. Deliver a Clear Message: Tell them to vote “NO” on any future legislation that limits the evidence a jury can see, imposes artificial caps on damages, or otherwise interferes with the rights of injured citizens to seek full and fair justice in a court of law.

By standing together, we can send a clear message to Austin that the rights of the people are not for sale.