txta statement on cshb 19

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION—March 24, 2021
TXTA Contact: Kimberly Leggett
kimberly@texastrucking.com

AUSTIN – Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) today released the following statement on the passage of the Committee Substitute for HB 19, which will provide consistency and uniformity in how trial courts handle commercial motor vehicle cases.

“TXTA applauds Chairman Jeff Leach and the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee on the passage of the Committee Substitute for House Bill 19. This bill protects the rights of all Texans to pursue judicial action in a fair and accountable courtroom. By putting a stop to those trying to make money off the backs of safe trucking companies and hardworking Texans, CSHB 19 ensure juries have all the facts and not inflated falsehoods,” said TXTA President and CEO John D. Esparza. “Eighty-eight percent of trucking companies in Texas are small businesses and they simply cannot keep up with the skyrocketing insurance rates that are associated with the unfair, inflated verdicts we are seeing in the courtroom, unrelated to safety. This legislation will help to correct that. We encourage the Texas House to take swift action to bring CSHB 19 to a floor vote. “