By Morgan O'Hanlon

8:13 PM on Apr 29, 2021 CDT

A bill that would make it harder to successfully sue commercial trucking companies moved forward Thursday afternoon after a series of postponements on the House floor.

According to the bill’s author, Plano Republican Jeff Leach, the legislation would create a fair framework that ensures victims in collisions involving commercial vehicles can have their day in court, while also protecting commercial motor vehicle operators from excessive lawsuits. The legislation passed 93-52.

“With passage of this bill, we will see commercial vehicle insurance rates fall in the state,” Leach promised.

The Keep Texas Trucking Coalition praised the passage of the bill Thursday evening. According to a statement the coalition released Thursday, more than 550 businesses have supported his bill as written.

“The Texas House has taken an important step to ensure our legal system provides appropriate remedies for injured Texans without allowing rampant lawsuit abuse to wreak havoc on small businesses,” the statement read.