By: Vasut H.B. No. 4573       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to civil liability, including sanctions, for prohibited   barratry.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 82.0651, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d-1) and (d-2) to   read as follows:          Sec. 82.0651.  CIVIL LIABILITY FOR PROHIBITED BARRATRY. (a)   A client may bring an action to void a contract for legal services   that was attempted to be procured as a result of conduct violating   Section 38.12(a) or (b), Penal Code, or Rule 7.03 of the Texas   Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of   Texas, regarding barratry by attorneys or other persons, and to   recover any amount that may be awarded under Subsection (b). A   client who enters into a contract described by this subsection may   bring an action to recover any amount that may be awarded under   Subsection (b) [even if the contract is voided voluntarily].          (d-1)  A court shall impose a sanction in an amount provided   by Subsection (d-2) against an attorney who pursues an action under   this section on behalf of a client if:                (1)  in the action under this section, the attorney’s   client fails to establish that the contract for legal services   related to the underlying action was improperly procured or   solicited as provided in Subsections (a) or (c);                (2)  the court determines the action under this section   was groundless as defined in Section 9.001(3); and                (3)  the attorney:                      (A)  represented the client in the underlying   action after the client terminated his or her relationship with the   defendant-attorney in the underlying action; or                      (B)  has or will receive a fee from the client’s   recovery in the underlying action.          (d-2)  A sanction imposed against an attorney under   Subsection (d-1) shall:                (1)  reimburse the defendant for the court costs and   reasonable attorney's fees incurred defending against the action;   and                (2)  include an additional amount the court finds is   sufficient to deter the attorney who brought the action under this   section from bringing similar actions.          SECTION 3.  The changes in law by this Act apply only to an   action filed on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.