H.B. No. 4281
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a civil cause of action for fraudulent crowdfunding.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 4, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 100B to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 100B. LIABILITY FOR FRAUDULENT CROWDFUNDING 
         Sec. 100B.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "fraudulent
  crowdfunding" means collecting donations on behalf of a donee with
  the intent to keep the donations instead of giving the donations to
  the donee on whose behalf the donations were made.
         Sec. 100B.002.  LIABILITY FOR FRAUDULENT CROWDFUNDING. A
  person who engages in fraudulent crowdfunding is liable to the
  donee on whose behalf the donations were made or the donee's estate.
         Sec. 100B.003.  DAMAGES. (a)  A court shall award a donee or
  donee's estate who prevails in an action brought under this
  chapter:
               (1)  125 percent of the amount of donations the
  defendant collected on behalf of the donee through the fraudulent
  crowdfunding; and
               (2)  reasonable and necessary attorney's fees.
         (b)  Nothing in this section prevents the donee or the
  donee's estate from pursuing a claim for exemplary damages under
  Chapter 41 for the defendant's fraudulent crowdfunding.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 100B, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,
  as added by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues
  on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4281 was passed by the House on May
  14, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 4281 was passed by the Senate on May
  26, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor