| 1 | 1 | | 89R12402 MLH-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Middleton S.B. No. 2713 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to preventing discrimination in membership in a |
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| 10 | 10 | | professional or trade association or organization. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Chapter 121 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | CHAPTER 121. DISCRIMINATION BY PROFESSIONAL OR TRADE ASSOCIATION |
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| 15 | 15 | | OR ORGANIZATION PROHIBITED |
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| 16 | 16 | | Sec. 121.001. DENIAL OF MEMBERSHIP OR SERVICES. A |
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| 17 | 17 | | professional or trade association or organization may not deny a |
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| 18 | 18 | | person access to or membership or participation in the association |
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| 19 | 19 | | or organization because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, |
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| 20 | 20 | | familial status, or national origin or because of the person's |
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| 21 | 21 | | exercise of the person's freedom of speech or assembly, |
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| 22 | 22 | | notwithstanding any provision of the association's or |
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| 23 | 23 | | organization's bylaws. |
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| 24 | 24 | | Sec. 121.002. PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION. (a) A person |
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| 25 | 25 | | aggrieved by a violation of Section 121.001 may bring an action |
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| 26 | 26 | | against the professional or trade association or organization for |
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| 27 | 27 | | injunctive relief or damages. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (b) The court may award court costs and reasonable |
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| 29 | 29 | | attorney's fees to the prevailing party in an action brought under |
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| 30 | 30 | | this section. |
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| 31 | 31 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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