Relating to liability for land surveying services in or in connection with certain construction or services contracts.
SB 687 modifies Texas law to void certain indemnity clauses in construction contracts. It makes unenforceable promises requiring contractors to cover damages from a land surveyor's negligence or defects in their work, and also voids promises requiring land surveyors to cover damages from an owner's negligence (except for single-family or multifamily residential projects). This bill directly affects land surveyors, architects, engineers, contractors, and property owners in construction contracts. The law aims to prevent shifting liability for professional negligence through contractual terms.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Dec 20, 2024
Signed May 30, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
5 edits
·
May 30, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates Texas laws regarding liability for land surveying services in construction contracts. The changes clarify definitions, modify indemnification rules, and add protections for both private and governmental entities. The bill ensures that contracts cannot require architects, engineers, or land surveyors to indemnify owners for the owner's own negligence while allowing reasonable attorney fee reimbursement.
Scope change
The bill expands protections to include land surveyors alongside architects and engineers in construction contracts, and adds specific provisions for governmental agencies regarding engineering, architectural, and land surveying services contracts.
DEFINITION
Updated definitions to explicitly include 'land surveyor' alongside architects and engineers in construction contract liability provisions.
REQUIREMENT
Modified indemnification rules to prevent contractors from being held liable for damage caused by the owner's negligence, fault, or breach of contract.
Added provisions allowing owners to require engineers, architects, or land surveyors to name them as additional insureds on insurance policies.
Added specific protections for governmental agencies in engineering, architectural, and land surveying contracts, including limitations on indemnification and defense obligations.
TIMELINE
Established that the new law applies only to contracts entered into on or after September 1, 2025.
Floor votes · House May 20, 2025
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
49
Key actions
14
Committee
10
May 30, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
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 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Feb 3, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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