SB 2638
Johnson Bill Bars Bots That Fool Shoppers And Voters
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 the misleading use of bot accounts; authorizing a civil penalty.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Say it’s a bot and you’re off the hook. Penalties: up to $4K, then $8K.
The bill bars using an automated bot account to steer someone into a purchase, or to influence an election, in a way likely to fool a reasonable person about who is behind the account. It reaches anyone running bot accounts on websites, apps, social media, marketplaces or app stores, and it frees them from liability if they clearly disclose that the account is a bot. Commercial violations become deceptive trade practices that can be sued over under existing consumer law, and election violations can be investigated by the commission, with the attorney general able to collect civil penalties of up to $4,000 for a first violation and $8,000 for later ones, starting September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the Senate State Affairs committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB2638 · 2025-03-13
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the misleading use of bot accounts; authorizing a civil penalty.
WHAT IT DOES
Say it’s a bot and you’re off the hook. Penalties: up to $4K, then $8K.
The bill bars using an automated bot account to steer someone into a purchase, or to influence an election, in a way likely to fool a reasonable person about who is behind the account. It reaches anyone running bot accounts on websites, apps, social media, marketplaces or app stores, and it frees them from liability if they clearly disclose that the account is a bot. Commercial violations become deceptive trade practices that can be sued over under existing consumer law, and election violations can be investigated by the commission, with the attorney general able to collect civil penalties of up to $4,000 for a first violation and $8,000 for later ones, starting September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to State Affairs
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
“A person may not use a bot account to influence the result of an election in a manner likely to mislead a reasonable person as to the identity of the account user.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill regulates undisclosed automated political posting online and backs it with civil penalties that the attorney general can sue to collect.
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.
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.
TeamSources
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.
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.
TeamSources
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.
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 Senate · Filed Mar 13, 2025
04/03/2025 S Referred to State Affairs
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · State Affairs · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Business & Commerce--General
Business & Commerce--Trade Practices
Civil Remedies & Liabilities
Crimes--Miscellaneous
Elections--General
Electronic Information Systems
Text
The text as introduced · 468 words
89R16098 SCR-D By: Johnson S.B. No. 2638 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the misleading use of bot accounts; authorizing a civil penalty. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Title 99, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by adding Chapter 2005 to read as follows: CHAPTER 2005. MISLEADING USE OF BOT ACCOUNTS Sec. 2005.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Bot account" means an account on an online service, controlled by an automated software program, that is designed to impersonate or replicate human activity online by posting content or messaging users on the online service. (2) "Online service" means any publicly accessible Internet website, online application, mobile application, or virtual reality environment, including a social media service, social media network, online marketplace, or online application store, that provides a community forum for user-generated content, including the sharing of videos, images, games, audio files, text, or other material. Sec. 2005.002. MISLEADING USE OF BOT ACCOUNTS PROHIBITED. (a) A person may not induce another person to enter into a commercial transaction through the use of a bot account in a manner likely to mislead a reasonable person as to the identity of the account user. (b) A person is not liable under this section if the person clearly and conspicuously discloses the account the person is using is a bot account. Sec. 2005.003. DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE. A violation of this chapter is a false, misleading, or deceptive act or practice in addition to the acts and practices described by Subchapter E, Chapter 17, and is actionable under that subchapter. SECTION 2. Chapter 255, Election Code, is amended by adding Section 255.009 to read as follows: Sec. 255.009. MISLEADING USE OF BOT ACCOUNTS. (a) In this section, "bot account" has the meaning assigned by Section 2005.001, Business & Commerce Code. (b) A person may not use a bot account to influence the result of an election in a manner likely to mislead a reasonable person as to the identity of the account user. (c) A person is not liable under this section if the person clearly and conspicuously discloses the account the person is using is a bot account. (d) The commission may investigate a complaint alleging a violation of this section. (e) A person who violates this section is liable for a civil penalty in an amount determined by the commission not to exceed: (1) $4,000 for the first violation; and (2) $8,000 for the second or a subsequent violation. (f) The attorney general may bring an action to recover the civil penalty described by Subsection (e). SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to conduct that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.