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HB 3081

AN ACT relating to certain civil penalties under the Deceptive Trade

House Bill
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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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.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to certain civil penalties under the Deceptive Trade