HB 5495
browser privacy signals count as opt-outs
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to authorizing the use of global privacy controls to protect a consumer's personal data; providing a civil penalty.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Covered browsers in Texas must follow the signal automatically.
The bill requires companies covered by Texas's consumer data privacy law to treat a browser or device privacy signal as the consumer's request not to have personal data sold, shared, or disclosed. It also requires any covered company that runs a web browser in Texas to build that browser so it automatically recognizes and follows the consumer's privacy signal. Companies that still break these rules after the existing cure period face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation, and repeat violators face a larger penalty set by the court to deter them.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 14, 2025 and referred to the House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB5495 · 2025-03-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to authorizing the use of global privacy controls to protect a consumer's personal data; providing a civil penalty.
WHAT IT DOES
Covered browsers in Texas must follow the signal automatically.
The bill requires companies covered by Texas's consumer data privacy law to treat a browser or device privacy signal as the consumer's request not to have personal data sold, shared, or disclosed. It also requires any covered company that runs a web browser in Texas to build that browser so it automatically recognizes and follows the consumer's privacy signal. Companies that still break these rules after the existing cure period face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation, and repeat violators face a larger penalty set by the court to deter them.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
6301 ECC LLC$36,400.00
6301 ECC LLC
$36,400.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,400.00
- Total
- $36,400.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100978329, 101005348, 101026340, 101056439, 101069774, 101071921.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$21,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$21,000.00
- Cash
- $21,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $21,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 4, 2024 to Oct 9, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100978329, 101026340, 101056439, 101071921.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
6301 ECC LLC
$36,400.00
- Cash
- $0.00
- Paid by others
- $36,400.00
- Total
- $36,400.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100978329, 101005348, 101026340, 101056439, 101069774, 101071921.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$21,000.00
- Cash
- $21,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $21,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Oct 4, 2024 to Oct 9, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100978329, 101026340, 101056439, 101071921.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 14, 2025
04/07/2025 H Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development: Apr 7 2025 5:28PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Business & Commerce--General
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Consumer Protection
Protection of Personal Information
COMPUTERS & SOFTWARE
INTERNET
Text
The text as introduced · 347 words
89R16721 MPF-D By: Bhojani H.B. No. 5495 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to authorizing the use of global privacy controls to protect a consumer's personal data; providing a civil penalty. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 541, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by adding Section 541.056 to read as follows: Sec. 541.056. GLOBAL PRIVACY CONTROL. (a) In this section: (1) "Global privacy control" means a browser plug-in, privacy setting, device setting, or other mechanism that communicates or signals a consumer's decision not to have the consumer's data sold, shared, or disclosed. (2) "Plug-in" means a piece of software code that enables a computer application or program to perform an activity the application or program cannot do independently. (b) A controller collecting personal data from a consumer online shall treat the consumer's use of a global privacy control as a valid request submitted by the consumer not to sell, share, or disclose the consumer's personal data. (c) A controller that operates an Internet web browser in this state shall enable the browser to automatically recognize and comply with a consumer's global privacy control choices. SECTION 2. Section 541.155, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), a [ A ] person who violates this chapter following the cure period described by Section 541.154 or who breaches a written statement provided to the attorney general under that section is liable for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $7,500 for each violation. (a-1) A person who violates Section 541.056 following the cure period described by Section 541.154 is liable for a civil penalty: (1) in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each violation; or (2) if a person repeatedly violates Section 541.056, in an amount that is: (A) greater than $5,000; and (B) sufficient to deter future violations of that section, as determined by the court. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.