What Chapter 28 does
Texas Property Code Chapter 28 is the private-project prompt-payment statute. In plain terms, it sets payment timing after a proper written payment request for work, stored materials, or specially fabricated materials allowed under the contract. It is a payment-law clock, not the same thing as perfecting a mechanics lien.
The 35-day owner-to-contractor clock
When an owner receives a written payment request from a contractor for an allowed amount, Chapter 28 generally requires payment by the 35th day after receipt, minus amounts that may be withheld under another statute. Treat the receipt date and the backup attached to the request as critical records.
The 7-day downstream payment clock
After a contractor receives owner payment, Chapter 28 generally requires the contractor to pay each subcontractor its proper share of that payment, including attributable interest if any, by the seventh day after receiving the owner payment. A subcontractor that receives payment generally has the same seven-day downstream clock for lower-tier subcontractors.
The 1.5% monthly interest rule
Chapter 28 sets interest on an overdue payment at 1.5% each month. Interest is separate from the lien deadline question. It may matter in a payment dispute, but it does not extend a Chapter 53 notice or lien affidavit deadline.
How Chapter 28 relates to Chapter 53
A contractor searching because an invoice is past due may be looking at two different issues: prompt payment under Chapter 28 and lien preservation under Chapter 53. Chapter 28 can explain why payment should already have moved. Chapter 53 controls notices, lien affidavit filing, and foreclosure timing. A missed Chapter 53 deadline is not repaired by Chapter 28 interest.
What BuilderMaxPro does and does not compute
BuilderMaxPro computes supported Texas Property Code Chapter 53 notice, lien affidavit, foreclosure, and retainage deadline workflows from entered project facts. It does not track Chapter 28 prompt-payment clocks. Use this guide to understand the law, then use the lien deadline calculator to check Chapter 53 dates before assuming time remains.