HB4340 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)
COURT OF CLAIMS-PROCEDURE
Last Action
3/27/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Court of Claims Act. Creates an administrative process for uncontested claims for vendors arising from contracts with the State. Requires a State agency to confirm or reject an uncontested claim that is from a lapsed appropriation and valued at less than $2,500 within 30 days after being notified in writing by the Attorney General. Provides that if the State agency does not confirm or reject the claim within that 30-day period, then the State agency forfeits the right to reject or contest the claim. Requires the Comptroller, subject to appropriation, then issue payment to the vendor within 30 days of the court entering such an award. Provides that if the court determines that it is unable to process such an uncontested claim because the bill or invoice contains a defect, the court must notify the vendor in writing of the defect no later than 30 days after the bill or invoice was first submitted. Provides that if one or more items on a bill or invoice are disapproved, but not the entire bill or invoice, then the portion that is not disapproved must be transmitted to the Comptroller for payment. Changes the filing fees required under the Act as follows: a fee of $15 for a petition seeking more than $500 but less than $10,000; and $35 for a petition seeking more than $10,000 or more. Requires that the court must allow claimants to submit documentation to amend and cure defects. Makes other changes. Authorizes the Court of Claims to adopt rules to implement the Act.
House Committee Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Provides these changes to the bill. Provides that a State agency must confirm or reject a claim arising under the Act that is from a lapsed appropriation and valued at less than $2,500 within 45 days (instead of 30 days) after being notified in writing of the claim by the Attorney General. Deletes provisions that if the State agency does not confirm or reject the claim within a 30-day period, then the State agency forfeits the right to reject or contest the claim. Provides that if the court determines that it is unable to process such a contractual claim because the bill or invoice contains a defect, the court must notify the vendor in writing of the defect no later than 45 days (instead of 30 days) after the bill or invoice was first submitted. Requires the court to produce an annual report to the General Assembly on claims arising from lapsed appropriations. Provides that the report shall include data on the number of claims submitted each year, the number of claims resolved, the number and dollar amount of claims paid and pending, the State agencies associated with the lapsed claims, the average length of time from claim submission to resolution for each State agency, and the number and age of unresolved claims that are older than 12 months, by State agency. Makes other changes.
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1/08/2026 | House | Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Dagmara Avelar |
| 1/14/2026 | House | First Reading |
| 1/14/2026 | House | Referred to Rules Committee |
| 1/20/2026 | House | Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lindsey LaPointe |
| 2/03/2026 | House | Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Lilian Jiménez |
| 2/24/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Rita Mayfield |
| 2/24/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernandez |
| 2/27/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson |
| 3/02/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias |
| 3/02/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness |
| 3/12/2026 | House | Assigned to Executive Committee |
| 3/13/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah |
| 3/13/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal |
| 3/13/2026 | House | Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Dagmara Avelar |
| 3/24/2026 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Lilian Jiménez |
| 3/24/2026 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee |
| 3/25/2026 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Executive Committee |
| 3/25/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kam Buckner |
| 3/26/2026 | House | House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Executive Committee; by Voice Vote |
| 3/26/2026 | House | Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Executive Committee; 012-000-000 |
| 3/27/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Ryan Spain |
| 3/27/2026 | House | Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate |
