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SB2690 • 2025

Relating to solicitations for the retrieval of certain documents from the secretary of state; providing a civil penalty.

Relating to solicitations for the retrieval of certain documents from the secretary of state; providing a civil penalty.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Hancock
Last action
2025-05-27
Official status
05/27/2025 H Placed on General State Calendar
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Relating to solicitations for the retrieval of certain documents from the secretary of state; providing a civil penalty.

Relating to solicitations for the retrieval of certain documents from the secretary of state; providing a civil penalty.

What This Bill Does

  • Relating to solicitations for the retrieval of certain documents from the secretary of state; providing a civil penalty.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-05-27 Texas Legislature Online

    Placed on General State Calendar

  2. 2025-05-25 Texas Legislature Online

    Considered in Calendars

  3. 2025-05-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator

  4. 2025-05-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Committee report distributed

  5. 2025-05-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Committee report sent to Calendars

  6. 2025-05-22 Texas Legislature Online

    Considered in formal meeting

  7. 2025-05-22 Texas Legislature Online

    Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)

  8. 2025-05-21 Texas Legislature Online

    Scheduled for public hearing on . . .

  9. 2025-05-21 Texas Legislature Online

    Considered in public hearing

  10. 2025-05-21 Texas Legislature Online

    Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

  11. 2025-05-21 Texas Legislature Online

    Left pending in committee

  12. 2025-05-08 Texas Legislature Online

    Read first time

  13. 2025-05-08 Texas Legislature Online

    Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

  14. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Rules suspended-Regular order of business

  15. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment

  16. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Vote recorded in Journal

  17. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Three day rule suspended

  18. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Record vote

  19. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Read 3rd time

  20. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Passed

  21. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Record vote

  22. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Reported engrossed

  23. 2025-05-07 Texas Legislature Online

    Received from the Senate

  24. 2025-05-06 Texas Legislature Online

    Placed on intent calendar

  25. 2025-05-05 Texas Legislature Online

    Reported favorably w/o amendments

  26. 2025-05-05 Texas Legislature Online

    Recommended for local & uncontested calendar

  27. 2025-05-05 Texas Legislature Online

    Committee report printed and distributed

  28. 2025-05-01 Texas Legislature Online

    Considered in public hearing

  29. 2025-05-01 Texas Legislature Online

    Vote taken in committee

  30. 2025-04-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Scheduled for public hearing on . . .

  31. 2025-04-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Considered in public hearing

  32. 2025-04-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Testimony taken in committee

  33. 2025-04-24 Texas Legislature Online

    Left pending in committee

  34. 2025-04-03 Texas Legislature Online

    Read first time

  35. 2025-04-03 Texas Legislature Online

    Referred to Business & Commerce

  36. 2025-03-13 Texas Legislature Online

    Received by the Secretary of the Senate

  37. 2025-03-13 Texas Legislature Online

    Filed

Official Summary Text

Relating to solicitations for the retrieval of certain documents from the secretary of state; providing a civil penalty.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
89(R) SB 2690 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

By: Hancock

S.B. No. 2690

(Luther)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to solicitations for the retrieval of certain documents

from the secretary of state; providing a civil penalty.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code, is amended

by adding Subchapter M to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER M.

SOLICITATIONS FOR RETRIEVAL OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT

DOCUMENTS

Sec.

17.961.

DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "business

certification document" means a document:

(1)

required to be filed with the secretary of state

under Chapter 4, Business Organizations Code; or

(2)

produced by the secretary of state affirming that

a document described by Subdivision (1) was filed or that a specific

business organization exists.

Sec.

17.962.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE FOR MAIL SOLICITATIONS.

(a)

A nongovernmental entity or individual may not mail, or direct

another person to mail, a solicitation for the retrieval of a

business certification document unless the solicitor includes with

the mailed solicitation the disclosure required by this section,

prominently displayed in 18-point, boldfaced type, and in capital

letters in English, Spanish, and any other language in which the

solicitation is printed.

(b) The disclosure described by Subsection (a) must state:

"THIS NOTICE IS NOT FROM A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.

BUSINESS

CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTS CAN BE OBTAINED DIRECTLY FROM THE TEXAS

SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE."

Sec.

17.963.

REQUIRED DISCLOSURE FOR TELEPHONE OR IN-PERSON

SOLICITATIONS.

(a)

A nongovernmental entity or individual may not

make, or direct another person to make, a telephone or in-person

solicitation for the retrieval of a business certification document

unless the solicitor provides to each person solicited, at the

beginning of the solicitation and again before accepting payment

from the person, the disclaimer described by Subsection (b).

(b)

The solicitor described by Subsection (a) must state to

the person being solicited:

"I DO NOT WORK FOR A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.

BUSINESS

CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTS CAN BE OBTAINED DIRECTLY FROM THE TEXAS

SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE."

(c)

The disclaimer described by Subsection (b) must be made

slowly, in a clear voice, and in the same language in which the

solicitation is made.

Sec.

17.964.

INVESTIGATION. (a)

A complaint concerning a

violation of this subchapter may be made to the secretary of state.

(b)

The secretary of state shall investigate a complaint

made under Subsection (a). The secretary of state may refer the

complaint to the attorney general.

Sec.

17.965.

CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates this

subchapter is liable to this state for a civil penalty in an amount

not to exceed $500 for each violation.

Each solicitation is a

separate violation for purposes of this subsection.

(b)

In determining the amount of the civil penalty imposed

under this section, the court shall consider the amount necessary

to deter future violations.

(c)

The attorney general or the county attorney or district

attorney in the county in which the violation occurs may bring an

action to recover a civil penalty under this section.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a solicitation made on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.