HB 4327 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to wrongful death actions for the benefit of siblings of the decedent.

HB 4327 amends Texas law to allow siblings of a deceased person to file wrongful death lawsuits alongside spouses, children, or parents. The bill explicitly adds "siblings" to the list of eligible plaintiffs who may bring such actions "for the benefit of all" surviving family members. This change applies only to cases filed on or after September 1, 2025, with older cases governed by previous law. The legislation does not alter damages or court procedures, only expands who can initiate these lawsuits.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 1, 2025 Last action May 21, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 3 edits · May 15, 2025

MINOR

This bill expands the definition of 'sibling' in Texas wrongful death laws to include stepsiblings, allowing them to bring wrongful death claims alongside biological siblings, spouses, children, and parents. The change clarifies eligibility criteria for family members seeking damages when a loved one dies.

Scope change

The bill's scope now includes stepsiblings as eligible plaintiffs in wrongful death actions, previously limited to whole or half-blood siblings and adopted siblings.

ELIGIBILITY

Stepsiblings are now explicitly included as eligible to bring wrongful death actions for the benefit of all family members.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'sibling' was expanded to include stepsiblings alongside whole-blood, half-blood, and adopted siblings.

REQUIREMENT

Updated statutory language in Sections 71.001, 71.004(a), and 71.004(b) to reflect the expanded eligibility while maintaining the requirement that actions benefit all eligible family members.

Floor votes · House May 14, 2025

How they voted

100–35

Passed · 9 other

Total votes 144

May 14, 2025

D Democratic60

55 Yea 1 Nay 4

91% Yea

R Republican84

45 Yea 34 Nay 5

53% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

upper

May 21, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 15, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors