By: Hinojosa  S.B. No. 275
         (In the Senate - Filed January 4, 2021; March 3, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
  April 19, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9,
  Nays 0; April 19, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
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.
 
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