Texas House bill by Rep. Bonnen enhances liability protections for commercial space flight

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Greg Bonnen aims to enhance liability protections for commercial space flight activities and clarify enforceable agreement requirements following approval in both chambers, according to the Texas Legislature website.

In the House, 42 Democrats and 83 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while five Democrats opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, eight Democrats and 20 Republicans voted in favor, while three Democrats voted against it.

Greg Bonnen introduced the bill in the Texas House on Monday, March 10, during the 89th regular legislative session.

Bonnen graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS.

Bonnen, a Republican, was elected to the Texas State House in 2013 to represent the state’s 24th House district, replacing previous state representative Larry Taylor.

According to the Texas Legislature, the bill’s official text was summarized as follows: ‘Relating to liability protections for commercial space flight and exploration’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to enhance liability protections for commercial space flight and exploration activities. It revises the definition of a “space flight participant” and clarifies the requirements for an effective and enforceable liability agreement, specifying the agreement must be in writing, separate from other contracts, printed in at least 10-point bold type, and signed by the participant or their representatives. Additionally, the bill introduces Section 100A.005, recognizing the enforceability of a reciprocal waiver of claims among parties engaged in space flight activities under federal regulations, including contractors, subcontractors, or customers. The changes apply to causes of action accruing on or after Sept. 1, 2025.

The bill received its final legislative approval on Tuesday, May 27, and was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday, June 20.

Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.