LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 28, 2025 TO: Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB2373 by Johnson (Relating to the financial exploitation or abuse of persons using artificially generated media or phishing communications; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the number of filings resulting from the bill being unknown. The bill would add a new chapter to the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to make a person liable for damages if they knowingly disseminate media or phishing communications for financial exploitation. Remedies would include actual damages, court costs, and attorney's fees, and courts could issue restraining orders or injunctions. Civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day could be imposed and would be enforceable by the Attorney General.The bill would add a new section to the Penal Code to create the criminal offense of financial abuse using artificially generated media or phishing tactics. Penalties would range from a Class B misdemeanor to a felony of the first degree based on the value of property taken, appropriated, obtained, retained or used.According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, any increase in revenue resulting from the new civil penalty and criminal offense cannot be determined due to the unknown number of filings resulting from the bill. The impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the prevalence of conduct outlined in the bill's provisions that would be subject to criminal penalties. Local Government ImpactThe impact to units of local government associated with enforcement, prosecution, supervision, or confinement cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the prevalence of conduct outlined in the bill's provisions that would be subject to criminal penalties. Source Agencies: b > td > 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, MGol, DA, JPa
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
April 28, 2025
TO: Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB2373 by Johnson (Relating to the financial exploitation or abuse of persons using artificially generated media or phishing communications; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB2373 by Johnson (Relating to the financial exploitation or abuse of persons using artificially generated media or phishing communications; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
Honorable Pete Flores, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB2373 by Johnson (Relating to the financial exploitation or abuse of persons using artificially generated media or phishing communications; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
SB2373 by Johnson (Relating to the financial exploitation or abuse of persons using artificially generated media or phishing communications; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the number of filings resulting from the bill being unknown.
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the number of filings resulting from the bill being unknown.
The bill would add a new chapter to the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to make a person liable for damages if they knowingly disseminate media or phishing communications for financial exploitation. Remedies would include actual damages, court costs, and attorney's fees, and courts could issue restraining orders or injunctions. Civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day could be imposed and would be enforceable by the Attorney General.The bill would add a new section to the Penal Code to create the criminal offense of financial abuse using artificially generated media or phishing tactics. Penalties would range from a Class B misdemeanor to a felony of the first degree based on the value of property taken, appropriated, obtained, retained or used.According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, any increase in revenue resulting from the new civil penalty and criminal offense cannot be determined due to the unknown number of filings resulting from the bill. The impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the prevalence of conduct outlined in the bill's provisions that would be subject to criminal penalties.
Local Government Impact
The impact to units of local government associated with enforcement, prosecution, supervision, or confinement cannot be determined due to a lack of data to estimate the prevalence of conduct outlined in the bill's provisions that would be subject to criminal penalties.
Source Agencies: b > td > 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, MGol, DA, JPa
JMc, MGol, DA, JPa