In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, Dennis Nixon, president and CEO of International Bancshares, made the case for lawsuit abuse reform in Texas. International Bancshares is one of Texas’s largest independent commercial bank holding companies headquartered in Laredo. Their employees help contribute to the Texas Miracle but are often faced with frivolous lawsuits from personal injury lawyers. Nixon praised Texas Senate Bill 30 for the reforms that would help consumers and victims of personal injury accidents by reining in the bad practices of billboard attorneys:

The Texas legislature has come up with a solution, Senate Bill 30, which will stop plaintiff attorneys and their networks of medical providers from overdiagnosing, overbilling and overtreating victims. The language in the bill is designed to end empty lawsuits and prevent unjustified damage awards by arming juries with evidence about the true value of medical services. These claims are blatantly false, crafted to mislead and inflame the uninformed.

Nixon made the case the legislation is a model for other states to consider to help businesses and consumers:

Other states should follow Texas’ lead. Nuclear verdicts contribute to skyrocketing insurance rates, which force businesses to downsize, sell or close. Where there are more nuclear verdicts, there is more cause to flee. Senate Bill 30 will keep business in Texas.

I can attest that the Texas Miracle is still alive—we are still the best state in which to live, work and prosper. But keeping it that way requires perpetual vigilance. Let the Texas solution to the nuclear verdict problem serve as a model for all other states to follow.

As the final days of the Texas legislative session conclude, Texas legislators must get SB30 past the finish line and over to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for his signature.