Monitoring the Session

SB 1313

bill banning cartoon characters from tobacco store signs

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Molly CookDSenate 15

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to prohibited signs, logos, and designs in advertising or marketing cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or other tobacco products; creating a criminal offense.

Caption from analyzed text · version F.

Summary

Celebrity images and candy-looking ones too. Class B misdemeanor.

The bill makes it an offense for a store that sells cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or tobacco to use signs, logos, or designs with cartoon characters aimed at kids, look-alikes of kids' products, symbols used to market to minors, celebrity images, or images that look like food such as candy or juice. It touches tobacco and vape retailers as defined in existing state health law. Starting September 1, 2025, a retailer using that kind of imagery in its marketing, advertising, or sales faces a Class B misdemeanor.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on Jun 20, 2025.CREATES AN OFFENSE. The caption of the graded version (enrolled) reads: “relating to prohibited signs, logos, and designs in advertising or marketing cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or other tobacco products; creating a criminal offense.”CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Molly Cook (D) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Charles Cunningham (R) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1313 · 2025-02-14

SOLD BY

Sen. Molly CookDSenate 15

+ 9 coauthors

ITEM

relating to prohibited signs, logos, and designs in advertising or marketing cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or other tobacco products; creating a criminal offense.

WHAT IT DOES

Celebrity images and candy-looking ones too. Class B misdemeanor.

The bill makes it an offense for a store that sells cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or tobacco to use signs, logos, or designs with cartoon characters aimed at kids, look-alikes of kids' products, symbols used to market to minors, celebrity images, or images that look like food such as candy or juice. It touches tobacco and vape retailers as defined in existing state health law. Starting September 1, 2025, a retailer using that kind of imagery in its marketing, advertising, or sales faces a Class B misdemeanor.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 8, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to State Affairs
  5. Co-author authorized
  6. Co-author authorized
  7. Co-author authorized
  8. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  9. Considered in public hearing
  10. Testimony taken in committee
  11. Left pending in committee
  12. Considered in public hearing
  13. Vote taken in committee
  14. Reported favorably as substituted
  15. Committee report printed and distributed
  16. Co-author authorized
  17. Co-author authorized
  18. Placed on intent calendar
  19. Co-author authorized
  20. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  21. Record vote
  22. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  23. Record vote
  24. Three day rule suspended
  25. Record vote
  26. Read 3rd time
  27. Passed
  28. Record vote
  29. Reported engrossed
  30. Received from the Senate
  31. Read first time
  32. Referred to Public Health
  33. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  34. Considered in public hearing
  35. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  36. Left pending in committee
  37. Considered in formal meeting
  38. Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
  39. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  40. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  41. Committee report distributed
  42. Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
  43. Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
  44. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
  45. Rules suspended
  46. Additional sponsor(s) authorized
  47. Read 2nd time
  48. Passed to 3rd reading
  49. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  50. Read 3rd time
  51. Passed
  52. Record vote RV#3832
  53. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  54. Nonrecord vote recorded in Journal
  55. House passage reported
  56. Reported enrolled
  57. Signed in the Senate
  58. Signed in the House
  59. Sent to the Governor
  60. Filed without the Governor's signature
  61. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

“includes an image of a celebrity; or”…

Bill text, enrolled version (F)

The bill bans certain images in tobacco and vape retailers' signs and ads, including any celebrity image, and backs the ban with a Class B misdemeanor.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 119 yea · 22 nay

Senate · 25 yea · 5 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 28, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 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

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Molly Cook

Donors

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15KGregory Stocks$10,000Amber Alonso$6,500

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 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 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$15,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jun 5, 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: 100987960, 101029944, 101057026.

Gregory Stocks$10,000.00
Amber Alonso$6,500.00
Money

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

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$15,000.00

Cash
$15,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$15,000.00

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.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jun 5, 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: 100987960, 101029944, 101057026.

Votes5

House May 28, 2025

Yea
119
Nay
22
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
5
Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3832

SB 1313 (Cain, Cook, Gerdes, Hefner, Hopper, Landgraf, Leach, Lowe, Luther, McQueeney, Metcalf, Money, Morgan, Noble, Olcott, Richardson, Schatzline, Schoolcraft, Tinderholt, Toth, Troxclair, and Virdell - no) (119 - 22 - 2)

Shared roll motion

The following bills which were considered on second reading on the previous legislative day on the local, consent, and resolutions calendar were laid before the house, read third time, and passed by the following record vote (members registering votes and the results of the vote are shown following the bill number). (Record 3832): 141 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

  • Yea: 119 (published)
  • Nay: 22 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
5
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
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 25, Nays 5. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 5 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
5
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Cook moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSSB 1313 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5.

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 5 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
5
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5. (Same as previous roll call)

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 5 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Yea
25
Nay
5
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Cook moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1313 at this time on its second reading: CSSB 1313, Relating to prohibited signs, logos, and designs in advertising or marketing cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or other tobacco products; creating a criminal offense. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 25, Nays 5.

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

  • Yea: 25 (published)
  • Nay: 5 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses35
For
33
Against
1
On
1
Names

For

  • American Lung Association2 registrations
  • American vapor manufacturers association1 registration
  • American vapor manufacturers. Association1 registration
  • Dallas Police Association1 registration
  • Self5 registrations
  • Self; Harris County Sheriff’s Office1 registration
  • Self; Houston Police Officers’ Union2 registrations
  • Self; Texans for Safe and Drug-Free Youth3 registrations
  • Self; Texas Medical Association; Texas Pediatric Society; Texas Public Health Coalition1 registration
  • Self; Texas Pediatric Society, Texas Medcal Association, Texas Public Health Coalition1 registration
  • Self; Texas School Nurses Organization2 registrations
  • Self; TX-AFT1 registration
  • TASB1 registration
  • Texans for Safe and Drug Free Youth1 registration
  • Texans for Safe and Drug-Free Youth1 registration
  • Texas Academy of Family Physicians1 registration
  • Texas Academy of Pediatric Dentistry1 registration
  • Texas AFT1 registration
  • Texas Chapter American College of Physicians2 registrations
  • Texas PTA2 registrations
  • TMPA2 registrations

Against

  • Self; The Libertarian Party of Texas1 registration

On

  • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts1 registration
Sources

35 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 significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 8, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

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

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Feb 14, 2025

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

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

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Carol AlvaradoDSenate 6 Paul BettencourtRSenate 7 César BlancoDSenate 29 Adam HinojosaRSenate 27 Juan "Chuy" HinojosaDSenate 20 Tan ParkerRSenate 12 Angela PaxtonRSenate 8 Charles PerryRSenate 28 Judith ZaffiriniDSenate 21
Sponsors
Charles CunninghamRHouse 127
Cosponsors
Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148

House committee · Public Health · Committee vote 12 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Business & Commerce--General

Crimes--Against Persons--General

Crimes--Miscellaneous

Minors--Health & Safety

Tobacco Products

ADVERTISING

Text

The text as introduced · 276 words

89R10182 MCF-F

By: Cook
S.B. No. 1313

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibited signs, logos, and designs in advertising or

marketing cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or other tobacco products;

creating a criminal offense.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter K, Chapter 161, Health

and Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K. PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN CIGARETTE ,

E-CIGARETTE, OR TOBACCO PRODUCT ADVERTISING; FEE

SECTION 2. Subchapter K, Chapter 161, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Section 161.124 to read as follows:

Sec. 161.124. PROHIBITED IMAGES AND SIGNAGE; CRIMINAL

OFFENSE. (a) In this section, "e-cigarette" and "retailer" have

the meanings assigned by Section 161.081.

(b) A retailer commits an offense if the retailer:

(1) uses in any manner related to the retailer's

marketing, advertising, or sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or

tobacco products a sign, logo, or other design mark that:

(A) depicts a cartoon-like fictional character

primarily aimed at entertaining minors;

(B) imitates or mimics the trademarks or visual

appearance of products primarily marketed to minors;

(C) includes a symbol primarily used to market

products to minors;

(D) includes an image of a celebrity; or

(E) includes an image resembling a food product,

such as candy or juice; or

(2) uses decorative components, including signs,

graphics, animation, or dynamic lighting, in a manner that presents

the exterior of the retailer's premises with a visual appearance of

a nightclub or a game room as defined by Section 234.131, Local

Government Code.

(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.