SB 1448 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to decedents' estates and other matters involving probate courts.

SB 1448 updates Texas probate court procedures for transferring estate cases between counties and handling wills. It requires courts to electronically send specific documents (like transfer certificates and final orders) when moving cases, and mandates that applicants pay for physical will delivery. The bill also clarifies that copies of wills with valid self-proving affidavits can be used if original wills cannot be produced. These changes directly affect individuals handling estates, executors, and county clerks managing probate records.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 19, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 8 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates Texas probate and estate laws to modernize digital filing requirements, clarify service of process for deceased persons, and improve procedures for handling wills and estate inventories. The changes ensure electronic filing systems are properly integrated across courts and clarify how notices should be served when a person in a probate case is deceased.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of electronic filing requirements to include all court orders in statutory county, probate, district, and appellate courts, and adds new procedures for serving notices on deceased persons' estates.
REQUIREMENT

Added new Section 51.057 requiring service of citations or notices on either the personal representative or distributees of a deceased person's estate, with specific rules for when the personal representative has been discharged or no administration is ordered.

Added Section 10 requiring all courts to deliver court orders through the electronic filing system to all parties in cases where electronic filing is required or authorized.

Modified Section 453.003 to add new powers for surviving spouses, including the ability to preserve community property, discharge obligations, and wind up community affairs.

Modified Section 309.051 to clarify inventory requirements for estate property, specifying that inventories must include all real property in the state and all personal property regardless of location.

Modified Section 309.052 to clarify the list of claims requirements, specifying details about debt nature, dates, amounts, interest rates, and whether claims are separate or community property.

TECHNICAL

Repealed Section 403.060 of the Estates Code, which appears to be an obsolete provision.

Updated Section 33.105 to clarify procedures for transferring probate proceedings between courts, including what documents must be sent and delivery methods.

TIMELINE

Added Section 18 establishing that the Act takes effect on September 1, 2025.

Floor votes · House May 24, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
54
Key actions
17
Committee
11
Amendments
6
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Jun 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 29, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
lower
May 28, 2025
Introduced
Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
upper
May 28, 2025
Introduced
House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
upper
May 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage as amended reported
upper
May 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to 3rd reading as amended
lower
May 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Jurisprudence
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors