By: Moody H.B. No. 4507
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the jurisdiction of county attorneys to file price
gouging lawsuits in a declared emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code, is amended
by adding Section 17.46a to read as follows:
Sec. 17.46a. COUNTY ATTORNEY AUTHORITY TO FILE ACTION
REGARDING PRICE GOUGING IN A DECLARED EMERGENCY. A county attorney
has concurrent jurisdiction with the attorney general to pursue an
action under Sec. 17.46(b)(27).
SECTION 2. Section 17.46a, Business & Commerce Code, as
added by this Act, does not apply to a cause of action that accrued
before the effective date of this Act. A cause of action that
accrued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law
applicable to the cause of action immediately before that date, and
that 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, 2023.