Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1493 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/29/2021

                    87R1472 AJA-F
 By: Herrero H.B. No. 1493


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the use of an entity name that falsely implies
 governmental affiliation.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Title 6, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
 amended by adding Chapter 150C to read as follows:
 CHAPTER 150C. ENTITY NAME FALSELY IMPLYING GOVERNMENTAL
 AFFILIATION
 Sec. 150C.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "governmental
 unit" has the meaning assigned by Section 101.001.
 Sec. 150C.002.  FALSELY IMPLYING GOVERNMENTAL AFFILIATION.
 (a) A governmental unit is entitled to enjoin another person's use
 of an entity name that might falsely imply governmental affiliation
 with the governmental unit.
 (b)  In an action brought under this section, the
 governmental unit is entitled to injunctive relief throughout the
 state.
 (c)  If the court finds that the person against whom the
 injunctive relief is sought wilfully intended to imply governmental
 affiliation with the governmental unit, the court, in the court's
 discretion, may:
 (1)  enter judgment in an amount not to exceed three
 times the amount of the entity's profits and the governmental unit's
 damages; and
 (2)  award reasonable attorney's fees to the
 governmental unit.
 SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.