HB 3081
AN ACT relating to certain civil penalties under the Deceptive Trade
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Increases civil penalties under the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act, raising the maximum penalty from $10,000 to $20,000 per violation. It adds a significant additional penalty of up to $250,000 for violations targeting vulnerable populations, specifically seniors over 65, individuals not fluent in the primary language of the transaction, or people with intellectual disabilities. These changes aim to provide stronger legal protection for consumers who are more susceptible to deceptive business practices, with the new penalties taking effect on September 1, 2025.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to certain civil penalties under the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 17.47(c), Business & Commerce Code, is (c) In addition to the request for a temporary restraining order, or permanent injunction in a proceeding brought under Subsection (a) of this section, the consumer protection division may request, and the trier of fact may award, a civil penalty to be paid to the state in an amount of: (1) not more than $20,000 [$10,000] per violation; and (2) an additional amount of not more than $250,000 if the act or practice that is the subject of the proceeding was calculated to acquire or deprive money or other property from a (A) 65 years of age or older when the act or (B) not fluent in the language in which the act or (C) a person with an intellectual disability[, an additional amount of not more than $250,000]. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section 17.47, Business & Commerce Code, applies only to an action brought under that section on or after the effective date of this Act. An action brought under Section 17.47, Business & Commerce Code, before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the action was brought, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Consumer Protection and related subject areas.
Adnelis M. Perez Vega
PremiumBrianna M. Menard
Robert D. Miller
Haley Cornyn
Allen E. Blakemore
Michael J. Johnson
Vera Denise Rose
Gavin L. Massingill
Leslie Pardue
Fred Shannon
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to certain civil penalties under the Deceptive Trade
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