Texas Probate Master Bill Tracking Page

Use this page as the jumping off point to track probate- and trust-related bills
in the 77th Legislature. If you don't want to wade through the other pages on the
site to get here, then bookmark this page:

Bill	Description	Effective Date	Bill Text

HB 154	Requires DHS to set the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities at a minimum of $60 (up from $30).	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 482	Adds family members and guardians to the list of persons who cannot be retaliated or discriminated against for reporting nursing home abuse and gives them a statutory basis for suing because of retaliation or discrimination.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 483	Cleans of references to "lunatics," "non compos mentos," etc., and changes them to "incapacitated persons" in various statutes.	05/23/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 534	Gives a visiting statutory probate judge assigned under Govt. Code Sec. 25.0022 the power to make Section 5B and 608 transfers.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 535	Makes an administrative change for recording the service of a visiting judge.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled
HB 536	Amends Sections 5 and 606 to make filing a probate case in a statutory probate court mandatory in counties with such courts.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 537	Fixes a problem with a 1999 bill to permit a statutory probate court to transfer a case back to the court it came from if jurisdiction is lost, even if that court is in another county.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 538	Permits a visiting statutory probate judge assigned under Section 25.0022 of the Government Code to hear ancillary matters in his or her home county, unless a party objects.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 539	Provides for court approval of contracts for sports, entertainment and advertising entered into by minors and permits a portion of the earnings to be preserved for the child in an 867 trust.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 628	Permits the court to appoint a noncorporate trustee of an 867 trust; permits a guardian ad litem to apply for creation of an 867 trust.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 689	Cleans up jurisdictional loose ends for statutory probate courts, including specifying their jurisdiction over certain matters in the Health and Safety Code. There's a special effective date provision for Denton County.	09/01/01 (except for Denton County)	Text (Enrolled
HB 898	Increases the limit on sales of real or personal property by a minor without a guardianship (Probate Code Section 889) from $50,000 to $100,000. The House committee substitute also raises to $100,000 the limits in Sections 745(c), 887 and 890 so that the $100,000 limit is consistent.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 900	Clarifies and expands the duties of the presiding statutory probate judge.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 920	Relating to the adoption of the Uniform Parentage Act.	06/14/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 952	Relating to interstate guardianships.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1037	Allows the court to continue hearing any matter appertaining to a guardianship estate "that a court exercising original probate jurisdiction is specifically authorized to hear" under the guardianship code when the ward dies, turns 18 or regains capacity.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1073	Changes the requirement in Chapter 571 of the Health and Safety Code that probate courts be open "at all times" for proceedings under that chapter to requiring that they be open "during normal business hours."	06/11/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1083	Adds Section 487A to the Probate Code, providing that a bankruptcy proceeding does not terminate the authority of the agent to act, but that the agent's powers are subject to the restrictions imposed by bankrupcy laws.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1132	State Bar REPTL Guardianship Bill: Permits suspension (not termination) of an agent's powers under a power of attorney during a temporary guardianship; permits surviving parent to designate guardian for child in the event of later incapacity; cleans up declaration of guardian for children requirements; permits inspection of estate planning documents for gift-giving purposes; provides accounting and removal procedure for community administrators.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1233	Amends Section 774(a) of the Probate Code to permit the guardian to buy a prepaid funeral contract if the court approves.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1245	A major fix to 1999's "community enhancements" bill: establishes the rules regarding what are now called "claims for economic contribution" in a marriage where one estate (usually the community) is used to enhance (usually by paying debt secured by) the other estate.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1316	Under Section 534.0175 of the Health and Safety Code, trust assets in excess of $50,000 must be considered a resource affecting eligibility of trust beneficiaries for certain state-supported mental health services. This bill would raise the $50,000 limit to $250,000, allowing the beneficiary to protect more assets.		Text (Enrolled)
HB 1365	Adds Tex. Fam. Code Sec. 154.013, providing that a child support obligation continues on the death of the party entitled to receive the child support payment, notwithstanding any provision of the Probate Code.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1420	Excludes from the definition of the practice of law assistance offered by employees or volunteers of area agencies on aging in preparing medical powers of attorney, directives to physicians and declarations of guardian. As originally filed, they could assist with durable property powers as well, but that was dropped from the bill.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1813	Amends Section 32.45(a)(1), Penal Code, to add an attorney-in-fact or agent under a durable power of attorney to the definition of "fiduciary" for purposes of the misapplication by fiduciary statute. As originally filed, the bill was much broader."	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 1883	Requires agent on power of attorney to account to principal. Earlier versions (1) required agent to post bond in some cases, (2) required recording powers of attorney and (3) changed form and required disclosure statement.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 2152	Expands the list of persons to whom bequests can be made without violating Section 58b of the Probate Code (spouses, ancestors, descendants and persons within the third degree of consanguinity would be excepted.)	06/11/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 2731	Although the amendment is not entirely clear, it appears that this bill would require the appointment of an attorney ad litem for unknown heirs in every heirship proceeding (rather than leaving to the court's discretion whether or not to appoint an ad litem.)	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 2814	Makes the salary of all statutory probate judges equal to or greater than the salary of a district judge in that county (previously this requirement applied only to counties with populations of 700,000 or more); also changes a few statutory cross-references.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 2882	Amends the jurisdictional statute for Travis County Probate Court No. 1 to give that court jurisdiction to hear actions arising under certain sections of the Health and Safety Code.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
HB 3144	Various guardianship changes: Sec. 633 -- spouse must be served only if whereabouts are known; Sec. 687 -- 4 days notice to proposed ward and ad litem before hearing on court-ordered examination; Sec. 784 -- 120-day bar for notice to creditors; Sec. 887, 889 and 890 -- $50,000 "nonguardianship" limit raised to $100,000.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
SB 194	Creates Collin County Probate Court No. 1, effective January 1, 2003.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
SB 723	State Bar REPTL Decedent's Estates Bill: Eliminates the social security number requirement on applications to probate will as muniment of title and cleans up Sections 177(b) and 313.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
SB 869	Amends Probate Code Section 633 to provide that the spouse must be served with citation in a guardianship only "if the whereabouts of the spouse are known or can be reasonably ascertained."	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
SB 941	Would require a former or retired statutory probate judge who wishes to be assigned cases to certify that he or she is willing not appear, plead in or accept certain appointments from any court in the county of the judge's residence for two years (the Senate version would have applied to contiguous counties, too).	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
SB 1094	Clarifies that the statutory probate court of Denton County may hear cases at such locations as the judge considers necessary or as otherwise provided by law.	05/22/01	Text (Enrolled)
SB 1407	Increases "3% of the sale price" cap on the fee paid to a bonded livestock commission merchant who is hired by a personal representative to sell the decedent's livestock to 5% (originally the bill would have eliminated the limit completely).	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
SB 1417	Requires guardian to get compensation approved at time accounting is filed; makes it harder to get more than "5% in/5% out" commission for a guardian; denies compensation for veterans' benefits, social security benefits and tax-motivated gifts.	09/01/01	Text (Enrolled)
SB 1640	Adds "mutual fund account" to the list of permitted nontestamentary transfers in Probate Code Section 450.	05/22/01	Text (Enrolled)

Bill	Author	Description	Action	Date	Links
HJR 9	Averitt, R-Waco	Removes the constitutional prohibition of perpetual trusts. (This constitutional amendment would require voter approval.)	Filed	02/13/01	Bill History Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Related Bill: SJR 26 Related Bill: HB 1608 Related Bill: SB 698
			Referred to Financial Institutions	02/21/01
			Testimony Taken, Left Pending	03/05/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendment	03/12/01
			Sent to Calendars	03/19/01
			Considered in Calendars	04/17/01
HB 19	Corte, R-Bexar	Requires attorney for personal representative of estate to disclose breaches of fiduciary duties and misrepresentations to beneficiaries and court, permits suit against attorney who fails to do so, and prohibits personal representative from using estate funds to defend itself unless court finds it is likely to prevail.	Filed	11/13/00	Bill History Text (Introduced) Commentary
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	01/22/01
			Referred to Subcommittee (Hartnett, Garcia)	02/26/01
HB 154	Thompson, D- Harris	Requires DHS to set the personal needs allowance for certain Medicaid recipients who are residents of long-term care facilities at a minimum of $60 (up from $30). The bill as introduced raised it to a minimum of $75, but the House committee substitute settles for $60.	Filed	11/13/00	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Related Bill: HB 717
			Referred to Human Services	01/25/01
			Testimony Taken, Left Pending	02/12/01
			Reported Favorably as Substituted	03/26/01
			Sent to Calendars	04/02/01
			Passed by House	05/08/01
			Referred to Health and Human Services	05/10/01
			Posting Rule Suspended	05/11/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments	05/11/01
			Amended Twice on Senate Floor	05/21/01
			Passed by the Senate as Amended	05/21/01
			House Refuses to Concur in Senate Amendments, Conference Committee Appointed	05/23/01
			House and Senate Adopt Conference Committee Report	05/2701
			Sent to the Governor	05/28/01
			Signed by the Governor	06/15/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 327	Bosse, D-Houston	Relating to adoption of the Business Organizations Code.	Filed	12/05/01	Bill History Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Related Bill: SB 967
			Referred to Business and Industry	01/29/01
			Testimony Taken, Left Pending	03/20/01
			Reported Favorably as Amended	04/24/01
			Sent to Calendars	05/02/01
HB 330	Berman, R-Tyler	Requires person executing durable power of attorney to give notice to everyone within the second degree of consanguinity, gives those persons an opportunity to sue to show lack of capacity, and permits court to revoke power of attorney in cases of fraud duress or breach of fiduciary duty.	Filed	12/06/00	Bill History Text (Introduced) Commentary
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	01/29/01
			Referred to Subcommittee (Hartnett, Garcia)	02/12/01
HB 482	Naishtat, D-Austin	Adds family members and guardians to the list of persons who cannot be retaliated or discriminated against for reporting nursing home abuse and gives them a statutory basis for suing because of retaliation or discrimination.	Filed	01/05/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced)
			Referred to Human Services	01/31/01
			Committee Substitute Considered, Testimony Taken, Left Pending	02/12/01
			Reported Favorably As Substituted, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	02/19/01
			Placed on Local, Consent and Res. Calendar, Then Withdrawn	03/29/01
			Transferred to Calendars	04/04/01
			Passed by House	04/18/01
			Referred to Health and Human Services	04/20/01
			Testimony Taken	04/30/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	05/01/01
			Passed by Senate	05/07/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/09/01
			Signed by the Governor	05/21/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 483	Naishtat, D-Austin	Cleans of references to "lunatics," "non compos mentos," etc., and changes them to "incapacitated persons" in various statutes.	Filed	01/05/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced)
			Referred to Human Services	01/31/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendment, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	02/12/01
			Passed by House	03/29/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	04/03/01
			Testimony Taken	04/30/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	05/01/01
			Passed by Senate	05/10/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/11/01
			Signed by the Governor	05/23/01
			Effective Date	05/23/01
HB 534	Thompson, D- Harris	Gives a visiting statutory probate judge assigned under Govt. Code Sec. 25.0022 the power to make Section 5B and 608 transfers.	Filed	01/09/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Commentary
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	01/31/01
			Referred to Subcommittee (Capelo, Deshotel)	02/12/01
			Recalled from Subcommittee, Testimony Taken, Reported Favorably Without Amendment, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	04/02/01
			Passed by the House	04/20/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	04/24/01
			Testimony Taken	05/09/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	05/10/01
			Passed by the Senate	05/17/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/18/01
			Signed by the Governor	06/11/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 535	Thompson, D- Harris	Makes an administrative change for recording the service of a visiting judge.	Filed	01/09/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Commentary
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	01/31/01
			Referred to Subcommittee (Capelo, Deshotel)	02/12/01
			Recalled from Subcommittee, Testimony Taken, Reported Favorably Without Amendment, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	04/02/01
			Passed by House	04/20/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	04/24/01
			Testimony Taken	05/09/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	05/10/01
			Passed by the Senate	05/17/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/21/01
			Signed by the Governor	06/11/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 536	Thompson, D- Harris	Amends Sections 5 and 606 to make filing a probate case in a statutory probate court mandatory in counties with such courts.	Filed	01/09/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Senate Committee) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Commentary
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	01/31/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendment, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	02/12/01
			Passed by House	03/29/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	04/03/01
			Testimony Taken	04/17/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	04/18/01
			Passed by Senate	05/01/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/02/01
			Signed by Governor	05/14/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 537	Thompson, D- Harris	Fixes a problem with a 1999 bill to permit a statutory probate court to transfer a case back to the court it came from if jurisdiction is lost, even if that court is in another county.	Filed	01/09/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Senate Committee) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Commentary
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	01/31/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendment, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	02/12/01
			Passed by House	03/29/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	04/03/01
			Testimony Taken	04/17/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	04/18/01
			Passed by Senate	05/01/01
			Sent to Governor	05/02/01
			Signed by Governor	05/14/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 538	Thompson, D- Harris	Permits a visiting statutory probate judge assigned under Section 25.0022 of the Government Code to hear ancillary matters in his or her home county, unless a party objects.	Filed	01/09/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Senate Committee) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Commentary
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	01/31/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendment, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	02/12/01
			Passed by House	03/29/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	04/03/01
			Testimony Taken	04/17/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	04/18/01
			Passed by Senate	05/01/01
			Sent to Governor	05/02/01
			Signed by Governor	05/14/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 539	Thompson, D- Harris	Provides for court approval of contracts for sports, entertainment and advertising entered into by minors and permits a portion of the earnings to be preserved for the child in an 867 trust.	Filed	01/09/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Commentary
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	01/31/01
			Testimony Taken in Public Hearing; Referred to Subcommittee (Hartnett, Garcia)	02/12/01
			Recalled from Subcommittee, Reported Favorably as Substituted	03/26/01
			Sent to Calendars	04/02/01
			Passed by the House	05/04/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	05/10/01
			Posting Rule Suspended	05/11/01
			Testimony Taken, Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	05/11/01
			Passed by the Senate	05/22/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/24/01
			Signed by the Governor	06/14/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 628	Naishtat, D-Austin	Permits the court to appoint a noncorporate trustee of an 867 trust; permits a guardian ad litem to apply for creation of an 867 trust.	Filed	01/12/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Commentary
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	02/01/01
			Referred to Subcommittee (Hartnett, Garcia)	02/12/01
			Recalled from Subcommittee, Testimony Taken, Reported Favorably as Substituted, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	03/12/01
			Considered in Local and Consent Calendars	04/17/01
			Passed by the House	04/27/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	05/01/01
			Considered in Public Hearing	05/09/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	05/10/01
			Passed by the Senate	05/22/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/24/01
			Signed by the Governor	06/15/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 689	Thompson, D- Harris	Cleans up jurisdictional loose ends for statutory probate courts, including specifying their jurisdiction over certain matters in the Health and Safety Code. There's a special effective date provision for Denton County.	Filed	01/17/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Related Bill: SB 1628
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	02/01/01
			Testimony Taken, Left Pending	02/12/01
			Referred to Subcommittee (Hartnett, Garcia)	02/26/01
			Recalled from Subcommittee, Reported Favorably as Substituted, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	03/19/01
			Passed by House	04/05/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	04/09/01
			Considered in Public Hearing.	05/07/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments	05/08/01
			Amended on Senate Floor	05/15/01
			Passed by Senate as Amended	05/16/01
			House Concurs in Senate Amendments	05/18/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/24/01
			Signed by the Governor	06/13/01
			Effective Date*	09/01/01
HB 717	Chavez, D-El Paso	Requires DHS to set the personal needs allowance for Medicaid recipients in long-term care facilities at a minimum of $45 per month (up from $30).	Filed	01/17/01	Bill History Text (Introduced) Related Bill: HB 154
HB 717	Chavez, D-El Paso		Referred to Human Services	02/01/01	Bill History Text (Introduced) Related Bill: HB 154
HB 763	McCall, R-Plano	Creates Collin County Probate Court No. 1, effective January 1, 2003	Filed	01/19/01	Bill History Text (Introduced) Commentary Related Bill: SB 194
HB 763	McCall, R-Plano		Referred to Judicial Affairs	02/05/01
HB 841	Hinojosa, D-McAllen	Requires district and county clerks to accept filings of documents by facsimile transmission. Each clerk would have to apply to approval of his or her system by December 31, 2001.	Filed	01/23/01	Bill History Text (Introduced)
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	02/05/01
			Testimony Taken, Left Pending	04/02/01
HB 847	Goodman, R-Arlington	Permits court to clarify the role of guardians ad litem and attorneys ad litem in suits affecting parent-child relationships -- are they advocates, do they represent the child's best interests, and are they permitted to cross-examine witnesses?	Filed	01/23/01	Bill History Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced)
			Referred to Juvenile Justice and Family Issues	02/05/01
			Committee Substitute Considered, Testimony Taken, Left Pending	04/10/01
			Reported Favorably as Substituted, Recommended for Local and Consent Calendars	04/20/01
HB 898	Thompson, D- Harris	Increases the limit on sales of real or personal property by a minor without a guardianship (Probate Code Section 889) from $50,000 to $100,000. The House committee substitute also raises to $100,000 the limits in Sections 745(c), 887 and 890 so that the $100,000 limit is consistent.	Filed	01/23/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Senate Committee) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced)
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	02/05/01
			Referred to Subcommittee (Hartnett, Garcia)	02/12/01
			Recalled from Subcommittee, Testimony Taken, Reported Favorably as Substituted	03/19/01
			Passed by House	04/05/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	04/09/01
			Testimony Taken	04/23/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments, Recommended for Local and Uncontested Calendar	04/24/01
			Passed by Senate	05/03/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/04/01
			Signed by Governor	05/16/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 900	Thompson, D- Harris	Clarifies and expands the duties of the presiding statutory probate judge.	Filed	01/23/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced) Related Bill: HB 534 Related Bill: HB 538
			Referred to Judicial Affairs	02/05/01
			Testimony Taken, Left Pending	02/26/01
			Reported Favorably Without Amendments	03/26/01
			Sent to Calendars	03/29/01
			Considered in Calendars	04/17/01
			Passed by House	05/11/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	05/11/01
			Posting Rule Suspended	05/11/01
			Testimony Taken, Reported Favorably Without Amendments	05/11/01
			Amended on Floor	05/17/01
			Passed by Senate as Amended	05/18/01
			House Refuses to Concur in Senate Amendments, Conference Committee Appointed	05/23/01
			House Concurs in Senate Amendments	05/27/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/28/01
			Signed by the Governor	06/14/01
			Effective Date	09/01/01
HB 920	Goodman, R-Arlington	Relating to the adoption of the Uniform Parentage Act.	Filed	01/24/01	Bill History Text (Enrolled) Text (Engrossed) Text (House Committee) House Analysis Text (Introduced)
			Referred to Juvenile Justice and Family Issues	02/05/01
			Committee Substitute Considered, Testimony Taken, Left Pending	02/27/01
			Reported Favorably as Substituted	03/06/01
			Sent to Calendars	03/19/01
			Considered in Calendars	03/22/01
			Passed by House	05/11/01
			Referred to Jurisprudence	05/11/01
			Posting Rule Suspended	05/11/01
			Testimony Taken, Reported Favorably Without Amendments	05/11/01
			Amended Twice on Senate Floor	05/22/01
			Passed by Senate as Amended	05/22/01
			House Concurs in Senate Amendments	05/25/01
			Sent to the Governor	05/27/01
			Signed by the Governor	06/14/01
			Effective Date	06/14/01
HB 923

Rule against perpetuities	SB 698 would extend the rule against perpetuities for trusts to 360 years. SJR 26 would remove the constitutional prohibition of perpetuities as it applies to trusts. (See also HB 1608 and HJR 9, although it appears that SB 698 and SJR 26 are the ones with the greatest chance of passing.)
Anti-Barcelo	HB 19 would impose disclosure duties and liability on attorneys for personal representatives. HB 1160 would stick attorneys drafting wills with a professional duty of care to the named beneficiaries.
Powers of attorney	HB 330 would require the principal to give notice to family members when signing a power of attorney. HB 1132 and SB 722 would suspend (not terminate) a power of attorney during a temporary guardianship, making it possible to resurrect it if the temporary guardianship is not made permanent. HB 1083 would clarify that the principal's bankruptcy doesn't terminate the agent's authority to act. HB 1883 would require agents to account to principals, although an earlier version would have substantially changed the statutory durable power of attorney form and power of attorney practice, making it harder to use powers of attorney in the future.
867/142 Trusts	HB 628 would permit the court to appoint non-corporate trustees of 867 trusts in some cases.
Community enhancements	HB 1245 is a major fix to 1999's "community enhancements" bill (right of reimbursement on steroids).
Non-incapacitated spouse's management rights	HB 1132 and SB 722 contain a major overhaul of Tex. Prob. Code Sec. 883 et seq. affecting the right of the non-incapacitated spouse to manage the community estate when his or her spouse is incapacitated.
Tortious interference with inheritance rights	HB 3467 would provided that filing a will contest is not tortious interference with inheritance rights.
Designations of guardians for children	HB 1132 and SB 722 would permit the surviving parent to designate a guardian for his or her minor or incapacitated child in the event of the parent's subsequent incapacity or death (not just death) and would clarify the effect of using the form in Probate Code Section 677A. HB 2971 and SB 1239 would adopt a new "standby guardianship" procedure for minor children.
Heirship proceedings	HB 2731 apparently would require an attorney ad litem in every proceeding to determine heirship.
Consent to psychatric treatment by guardian	HB 2322 and SB 1719 would permit a guardian in certain cases to admit a ward for "voluntary" in-patient psychiatric treatment.