By: Vasut H.B. No. 4126
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to clarifying that natural gas and electricity are
necessities during a declared disaster under the Deceptive Trade
Practices Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 17.46, Business & Commerce Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (b), Subdivision (27) to read as
follows:
(27) subject to Section 17.4625, taking advantage of a
disaster declared by the governor under Chapter 418, Government
Code, or by the president of the United States by:
(A) selling or leasing fuel, food, medicine,
lodging, building materials, construction tools, natural gas,
electricity, or another necessity at an exorbitant or excessive
price; or
(B) demanding an exorbitant or excessive price in
connection with the sale or lease of fuel, food, medicine, lodging,
building materials, construction tools, natural gas, electricity,
or another necessity;
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an act or practice that occurs on or after the effective date of
this Act. An act or practice that occurs before the effective date
of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the act or
practice occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.