HBA-MSH H.B. 1147 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1147 By: Nixon, Joe Civil Practices 4/3/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires the award of prejudgment interest in judgments awarded for a claim of wrongful death, personal injury, or property damage. However, because the law does not distinguish between past damages or future damages in determining prejudgment interest, courts have interpreted that prejudgment interest applies to both. House Bill 1147 prohibits the assessment or recovery of prejudgment interest on an award of future damages in a wrongful death, personal injury, or property damage case in a state court. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1147 amends the Finance Code to prohibit the assessment or recovery of prejudgment interest on an award of future damages in a wrongful death, personal injury, or property damage case in a state court. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.