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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring wireless telephone service providers and |
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mobile device manufacturers to disable certain stolen mobile |
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devices. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 10, Business & Commerce Code, |
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is amended by adding Chapter 307 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 307. DISABLING STOLEN MOBILE DEVICES |
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Sec. 307.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Authorized customer" means, with respect to a |
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mobile device: |
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(A) the person who holds the commercial wireless |
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telephone service account for the device; or |
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(B) if the device is a phone for which particular |
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amounts of service are purchased in advance, the person who owns the |
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phone. |
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(2) "Mobile device" means a handheld mobile device |
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that: |
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(A) is designed to enable the user to engage in |
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voice communications using a commercial wireless telephone |
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service; |
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(B) is capable of operating on a long-term |
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evolution network or successor wireless data network communication |
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standard; and |
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(C) may possess capabilities that include |
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built-in applications, Internet access, Internet browsing, digital |
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voice service, text messaging, and e-mail. |
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Sec. 307.002. DISABLING SERVICE TO STOLEN MOBILE DEVICES. |
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(a) A provider of wireless telephone services in this state may not |
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knowingly provide services on a mobile device that the provider |
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knows or has reason to believe is stolen. |
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(b) On receipt of notification from an authorized customer |
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that a mobile device has been stolen, a provider of wireless |
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telephone services shall suspend or otherwise cease providing |
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wireless telephone services to the device. |
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Sec. 307.003. DISABLING STOLEN MOBILE DEVICES. A |
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manufacturer of a mobile device to be sold in this state shall equip |
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the device or allow the device to be equipped with technology that |
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permits an authorized customer who reports the device stolen to |
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render the device inoperable. |
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SECTION 2. Section 307.003, Business & Commerce Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a mobile device manufactured on |
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or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |