By: Longoria H.B. No. 4643
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to regulation of online global marketplaces.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 5, Business & Commerce Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 121 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 121. ONLINE GLOBAL MARKETPLACES
         Sec. 121.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "online global
  marketplace" means a person that:
               (1)  provides for consideration, including
  consideration deducted as a fee from the transaction, an online
  application, software, an Internet website, a system, or another
  medium through which a good or service in this state is advertised
  or offered to the public as available; and
               (2)  is not regulated by this state; and
               (3)  directly or indirectly provides or maintains an
  Internet platform for goods or services by:
                     (A)  providing a payment system that facilitates a
  transaction between two platform users;
                     (B)  transmitting or otherwise communicating the
  offer or acceptance of a transaction between two platform users;
                     (C)  owning or operating the electronic or
  physical infrastructure or technology that brings two or more
  platform users together;
                     (D)  providing a virtual currency, as defined by
  Section 12.001, that platform users are allowed or required to use
  to transact; or
                     (E)  providing software development or research
  and development activities related to any of the activities
  described by this subdivision.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 250.014 to read as follows:
         Sec. 250.014.  REGULATION OF ONLINE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE
  PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "online global marketplace" has
  the meaning assigned by Section 121.001, Business & Commerce Code.
         (b)  A county or municipality may not:
               (1)  regulate the operation of an online global
  marketplace; or
               (2)  require an online global marketplace to provide
  personally identifiable information of its Internet platform users
  without an administrative subpoena or court order.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.