H.B. No. 3949
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to arbitration of certain controversies involving members
  of certain nonprofit entities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 173, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 173. ARBITRATION OF CERTAIN CONTROVERSIES INVOLVING
  [BETWEEN] MEMBERS OF CERTAIN NONPROFIT ENTITIES
         SECTION 2.  Section 173.002, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 173.002.  SCOPE OF CHAPTER. (a) This chapter applies
  only to the arbitration of a controversy between members of an
  association or corporation or between a corporation and its members
  if the association or corporation [that] is:
               (1)  exempt from the payment of federal income taxes
  under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by being
  listed as an exempt organization under Section 501(c) of the code;
  or
               (2)  incorporated under:
                     (A)  the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act
  (Article 1396-1.01 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); or
                     (B)  Subchapter C, Chapter 23, Business
  Organizations Code.
         (b)  This chapter does not apply to the arbitration of a
  controversy between:
               (1)  members of:
                     (A)  a property owners' association, as defined by
  Section 209.002, Property Code;
                     (B)  a condominium council of owners, as defined
  by Section 81.002, Property Code; or
                     (C)  a condominium unit owners' association
  organized under Section 82.101, Property Code; or
               (2)  an association or council of owners described by
  Subdivision (1) and a member of that association or council of
  owners.
         SECTION 3.  Section 173.003(c), Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  A provision in the bylaws of a nonprofit corporation
  incorporated under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act (Article
  1396-1.01 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) or under
  Subchapter C, Chapter 23, Business Organizations Code, that
  requires a member of the corporation to arbitrate at common law a
  controversy that subsequently arises between members or between the
  corporation and its members is a valid, enforceable, and
  irrevocable agreement by a member of the corporation to arbitrate
  the controversy.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a controversy arising on or after the effective date of this Act. A
  controversy arising before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the controversy arose, and
  that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3949 was passed by the House on May
  11, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 1, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3949 was passed by the Senate on May
  24, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor