HB 783: Fake Profile With Your Photo? Lalani Bill Lets You Sue

Caption

relating to civil liability for online impersonation.

Summary

Winners get actual damages and can seek at least $500 more. Satire and parody are exempt.

The bill lets a person sue someone who uses another person's name, voice, photo or likeness on social media without consent to build a false identity, knowingly and with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate or threaten. It touches social media users who run fake profiles and the people hurt by them, while exempting satire, parody, police doing internet investigations, and platforms hosting other people's content. A winning plaintiff gets actual damages, can seek at least $500 in extra damages and a court order stopping the impersonation, and the winning side in any case gets fees, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 4897 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 1 Republican, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB783 · 2024-11-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Suleman LalaniDHouse 76

Rep. Drew DarbyRHouse 72

ITEM

relating to civil liability for online impersonation.

WHAT IT DOES

Winners get actual damages and can seek at least $500 more. Satire and parody are exempt.

The bill lets a person sue someone who uses another person's name, voice, photo or likeness on social media without consent to build a false identity, knowingly and with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate or threaten. It touches social media users who run fake profiles and the people hurt by them, while exempting satire, parody, police doing internet investigations, and platforms hosting other people's content. A winning plaintiff gets actual damages, can seek at least $500 in extra damages and a court order stopping the impersonation, and the winning side in any case gets fees, starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 2025

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the number of new cases that would arise from the provisions of the bill being unknown.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Nov 12, 2024Filed
Mar 5, 2025Read first time
Mar 5, 2025Referred to Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
Apr 16, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 16, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 16, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 16, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 24, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 24, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 1, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 1, 2025Committee report distributed
May 1, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 5, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 7, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 7, 2025Read 2nd time
May 7, 2025Amended 1-Little
May 7, 2025Passed to engrossment as amended
May 7, 2025Record vote RV#1697
May 7, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 8, 2025Read 3rd time
May 8, 2025Passed
May 8, 2025Record vote RV#1807
May 8, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 8, 2025Reported engrossed
May 9, 2025Received from the House
May 21, 2025Read first time
May 21, 2025Referred to State Affairs
May 25, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 25, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 25, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 26, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
May 26, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 27, 2025Co-sponsor authorized
May 27, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 27, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
May 27, 2025Record vote
May 27, 2025Read 2nd time
May 27, 2025Amendment(s) offered FA1 J. Hinojosa
May 27, 2025Amended
May 27, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
May 27, 2025Passed to 3rd reading as amended
May 27, 2025Record vote
May 27, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 27, 2025Record vote
May 27, 2025Read 3rd time
May 27, 2025Passed
May 27, 2025Record vote
May 28, 2025Senate passage as amended reported
May 28, 2025Senate Amendments distributed
May 28, 2025Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
May 29, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
May 29, 2025Record vote RV#4030
May 29, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 29, 2025Text of Senate Amendment(s)
May 29, 2025House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
May 30, 2025Reported enrolled
May 31, 2025Signed in the House
Jun 1, 2025Signed in the Senate
Jun 1, 2025Sent to the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Signed by the Governor
Jun 20, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

…“a person is liable to another person injured by the person's online impersonation if the person knowingly and with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten the injured person used the online impersonation to create a false identity.”

Bill text, engrossed version (E)

The bill creates a new private lawsuit over what people post on social media, limited by an intent requirement and a satire and parody exception.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 118 yea · 27 nay

Senate · 27 yea · 4 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 8, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 27, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Suleman Lalani

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$38K Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee$12K TSA PAC$10K

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 · Oct 28, 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.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$37,500.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$37,500.00

Cash: $37,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $37,500.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100987680, 101007262, 101030846, 101036309, 101069420.

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee$11,569.08

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee

$11,569.08

Cash: $7,000.00
Paid by others: $4,569.08
Total: $11,569.08

Other filed descriptions $4,569.08

Also funds 9 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 3, 2026 to Jun 2, 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: 101040256, 101061992.

TSA PAC$10,000.00

TSA PAC

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

Also funds 15 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 23, 2025 to Oct 10, 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: 101030846, 101072241.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$37,500.00

Cash: $37,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $37,500.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 10, 2024 to Aug 31, 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: 100987680, 101007262, 101030846, 101036309, 101069420.

×

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee

$11,569.08

Cash: $7,000.00
Paid by others: $4,569.08
Total: $11,569.08

Other filed descriptions $4,569.08

Also funds 9 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 15, 2024 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Feb 3, 2026 to Jun 2, 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: 101040256, 101061992.

×

TSA PAC

$10,000.00

Cash: $10,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $10,000.00

Also funds 15 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 10, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 23, 2025 to Oct 10, 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: 101030846, 101072241.

Votes7

House May 29, 2025

Yea: 102
Nay: 28
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 12
Excused: 6

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4030

Representative Lalani moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 783. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 783 prevailed by (Record 4030): 102 Yeas, 28 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 102 (published)
Nay: 28 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 12 (derived from named list)
Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea: 27
Nay: 4
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 27 (published)
Nay: 4 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea: 27
Nay: 4
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator J. Hinojosa moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 783 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 27 (published)
Nay: 4 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea: 27
Nay: 4
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

HB 783 as amended was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 27 (published)
Nay: 4 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 27, 2025

Yea: 27
Nay: 4
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator J. Hinojosa moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 783 at this time on its second reading: HB 783, Relating to civil liability for online impersonation. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 27 (published)
Nay: 4 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 8, 2025

Yea: 118
Nay: 27
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 1
Excused: 2

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1807

HB 783 was passed by (Record 1807): 118 Yeas, 27 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 118 (published)
Nay: 27 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 2 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 7, 2025

Yea: 112
Nay: 28
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 5
Excused: 3

Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1697

HB 783, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 1697): 112 Yeas, 28 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

Yea: 112 (published)
Nay: 28 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 5 (derived from named list)
Excused: 3 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses4

For: 4
Against: 0
On: 0

Names

For

Self3 registrations
TechNet1 registration

Sources

4 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 28, 2025

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to the number of new cases that would arise from the provisions of the bill being unknown.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version E by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 4897

by Rep. Lalani, same lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 16, 2023: Referred to State Affairs

Relating to civil liability for online impersonation.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Companion

SB 2682 by Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy" (identical)

Subjects

Civil Remedies & Liabilities

Courts--General

Protection of Personal Information

INTERNET

Text

The text as introduced · 497 words

89R2891 AMF-F

By: Lalani
H.B. No. 783

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to civil liability for online impersonation.

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 98C to read as follows:

CHAPTER 98C. LIABILITY FOR ONLINE IMPERSONATION

Sec. 98C.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Online impersonation" means a person's use of an

individual's name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness

through social media without that individual's consent or, if the

individual is a minor, the consent of that individual's parent,

legal guardian, or managing conservator.

(2) "Photograph" includes any photograph or

photographic reproduction, still or moving, or any videotape or

live television transmission of any individual in which the

individual is readily identifiable.

(3) "Readily identifiable" means identifiable using

only the naked eye to reasonably determine the identity of an

individual in a photograph.

(4) "Social media" means a form of electronic

communication through which users create online communities to

share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content.

Sec. 98C.002. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter does

not apply to a law enforcement agency or a law enforcement agency

employee acting within the scope of employment in investigating

Internet crimes.

Sec. 98C.003. CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER. This chapter may

not be construed to impose liability on an interactive computer

service as defined by 47 U.S.C. Section 230(f) for content provided

by another person.

Sec. 98C.004. LIABILITY FOR ONLINE IMPERSONATION;

EXCEPTION. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person is

liable to another person injured by the person's online

impersonation if the person knowingly and with the intent to harm,

defraud, intimidate, or threaten the injured person used the online

impersonation to create a false identity.

(b) A person is not liable for an online impersonation of

which the sole purpose is satire or parody.

Sec. 98C.005. DAMAGES. (a) A claimant who prevails in an

action under this chapter shall be awarded actual damages,

including expenditures made by the claimant related to counseling,

identity theft, or libel. The defendant's profits attributable to

the defendant's online impersonation of the claimant may be

considered in the computation of actual damages.

(b) In addition to an award under Subsection (a), a claimant

who prevails in an action under this chapter may recover exemplary

damages of not less than $500.

(c) The court shall award costs and reasonable attorney's

fees to the prevailing party in any action under this chapter.

Sec. 98C.006. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. A court in which an action

is brought under this chapter, on the motion of a claimant depicted

in the defendant's online impersonation, may issue a temporary

restraining order or a temporary or permanent injunction to

restrain and prevent the online impersonation of the claimant.

Sec. 98C.007. CAUSE OF ACTION CUMULATIVE. The cause of

action created by this chapter is cumulative of any other remedy

provided by common law or statute.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee

TSA PAC

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee

TSA PAC

House May 29, 2025

Senate May 27, 2025

Senate May 27, 2025

Senate May 27, 2025

Senate May 27, 2025

House May 8, 2025

House May 7, 2025

For

88R HB 4897

Companion