SB 2637: Bill Makes Platforms Stamp Misinformation Warnings On Known Bot Posts

Caption

relating to disclosures about certain automated posts on social media platforms; providing a civil penalty.

Summary

The committee analysis calls it “protecting freedom of speech.” No duty to look for bots, though.

The bill requires social media platforms to put a label on any post they know was made by a bot account, saying a bot posted it and that it may contain misinformation. It touches social media companies and anyone who runs automated accounts that post like humans. Platforms that fail to label known bot posts face civil penalties of up to $7,500 per violation, which the attorney general can investigate and sue to collect, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on May 12, 2025. Died in the House: left pending in the Trade, Workforce & Economic Development committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2637 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Sen. Nathan JohnsonDSenate 16

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to disclosures about certain automated posts on social media platforms; providing a civil penalty.

WHAT IT DOES

The committee analysis calls it “protecting freedom of speech.” No duty to look for bots, though.

The bill requires social media platforms to put a label on any post they know was made by a bot account, saying a bot posted it and that it may contain misinformation. It touches social media companies and anyone who runs automated accounts that post like humans. Platforms that fail to label known bot posts face civil penalties of up to $7,500 per violation, which the attorney general can investigate and sue to collect, starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[x] PITCH: SPEECH AND LAWFARE

ACTUALLY

“a warning that content posted by a bot account may”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill forces platforms to attach a state-scripted warning that labeled posts may contain misinformation, and backs it with attorney general enforcement and per-post penalties.

[x] THE HOLEanalysis confidence 45%

THE TEXT

…“that is known to be posted by a bot account.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The labeling duty applies only to posts the platform already knows came from a bot. The text sets no duty to look for or detect bots, so a platform that does not check may escape the duty the pitch describes for posts made by bot accounts.

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 27, 2025

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to an unknown number of civil penalties that would be collected as a result of the bill.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Mar 13, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Mar 13, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to State Affairs
Apr 28, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 28, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 28, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 30, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 30, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 5, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
May 5, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
May 5, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 8, 2025Co-author authorized
May 8, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 12, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
May 12, 2025Record vote
May 12, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
May 12, 2025Record vote
May 12, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 12, 2025Record vote
May 12, 2025Read 3rd time
May 12, 2025Passed
May 12, 2025Record vote
May 12, 2025Reported engrossed
May 12, 2025Received from the Senate
May 14, 2025Read first time
May 14, 2025Referred to Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
May 19, 2025Posting rule suspended
May 21, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 21, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 21, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
May 21, 2025Left pending in committee
May 22, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 22, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
May 22, 2025Reported favorably as substituted

FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

“a warning that content posted by a bot account may”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill forces platforms to attach a state-scripted warning that labeled posts may contain misinformation, and backs it with attorney general enforcement and per-post penalties.

SIGNED FOR BY

Senate · 26 yea · 4 nay

Sources

Senate: Final passage · May 12, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Nathan Johnson

Donors

Daniel Cocanougher$250,000Texas Sands PAC$130KMarguerite Hoffman$125,000

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.

Daniel Cocanougher$250,000.00

Texas Sands PAC$129,500.00

Texas Sands PAC

$129,500.00

Cash: $129,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $129,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 27, 2024 to May 12, 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: 100990378, 101033698, 101040111, 101052272.

Marguerite Hoffman$125,000.00

Money

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

×

Texas Sands PAC

$129,500.00

Cash: $129,500.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $129,500.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 27, 2024 to May 12, 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: 100990378, 101033698, 101040111, 101052272.

Votes4

Senate May 12, 2025

Yea: 26
Nay: 4
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 26, Nays 4. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 26 (published)
Nay: 4 (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 May 12, 2025

Yea: 26
Nay: 4
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 Johnson moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that SB 2637 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.

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

Yea: 26 (published)
Nay: 4 (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 May 12, 2025

Yea: 26
Nay: 4
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 26, Nays 4. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 26 (published)
Nay: 4 (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 May 12, 2025

Yea: 26
Nay: 4
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 Johnson moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration SB 2637 at this time on its second reading: SB 2637, Relating to disclosures about certain automated posts on social media platforms; providing a civil penalty. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 4.

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

Yea: 26 (published)
Nay: 4 (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.

Witnesses2

For: 1
Against: 1
On: 0

Names

For

Self1 registration

Against

Self1 registration

Sources

2 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

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

Fiscal

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 27, 2025

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined due to an unknown number of civil penalties that would be collected as a result of the bill.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 21, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 13, 2025

05/22/2025 H Reported favorably as substituted

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed

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

Coauthors

César BlancoDSenate 29

House committee · Trade, Workforce & Economic Development · Committee vote 6 aye, 2 nay, 3 absent · Final status: Did not pass

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

Subjects

Business & Commerce--General

Civil Remedies & Liabilities

Consumer Protection

Electronic Information Systems

Text

The text as introduced · 240 words

89R15960 SCR-D

By: Johnson
S.B. No. 2637

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to disclosures about certain automated posts on social

media platforms; providing a civil penalty.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 120, Business & Commerce

Code, is amended by adding Section 120.0521 to read as follows:

Sec. 120.0521. DISCLOSURE REQUIRED FOR POSTS BY BOTS. (a)

In this section, "bot account" means an account controlled by an

automated software program that is designed to impersonate or

replicate human activity online by posting content on a social

media platform.

(b) A social media platform shall publish the disclosure

described by Subsection (c) on any content posted on the platform

that is known to be posted by a bot account.

(c) A disclosure required by Subsection (b) must include:

(1) a notice that the content was posted by a bot

account; and

(2) a warning that content posted by a bot account may

contain misinformation.

(d) A social media platform that violates this section is

liable for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $7,500 for

each violation.

(e) The attorney general may investigate a complaint

alleging a violation of this section. If the attorney general

determines that a violation has occurred, the attorney general may

bring an action to recover the civil penalty described by

Subsection (d).

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

Verdict: Smells

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texas Sands PAC

Texas Sands PAC

Senate May 12, 2025

Senate May 12, 2025

Senate May 12, 2025

Senate May 12, 2025

For

Against