SB 181
Relating to prohibiting the operation of virtual currency kiosks; imposing a civil penalty.
Filed
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Nov 9, 2026 · How we grade
Caption
relating to prohibiting the operation of virtual currency kiosks; imposing a civil penalty.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
The bill bans running a cryptocurrency kiosk in Texas for pay, and also bars a property owner or tenant from letting someone run one on their property.
The bill bans running a cryptocurrency kiosk in Texas for pay, and also bars a property owner or tenant from letting someone run one on their property. It touches kiosk operators and the stores or landlords that host the machines. Starting September 1, 2027, the attorney general can sue to take back all revenue a kiosk earned while operating illegally, recover legal costs, and have the machine forfeited and destroyed, and a violation also counts as a deceptive trade practice.
Receipt
The receipt
90R-SB181 · 2026-11-09
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to prohibiting the operation of virtual currency kiosks; imposing a civil penalty.
WHAT IT DOES
The bill bans running a cryptocurrency kiosk in Texas for pay, and also bars a property owner or tenant from letting someone run one on their property.
The bill bans running a cryptocurrency kiosk in Texas for pay, and also bars a property owner or tenant from letting someone run one on their property. It touches kiosk operators and the stores or landlords that host the machines. Starting September 1, 2027, the attorney general can sue to take back all revenue a kiosk earned while operating illegally, recover legal costs, and have the machine forfeited and destroyed, and a violation also counts as a deceptive trade practice.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
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 · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 15, 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.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$50,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 2025. 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC$25,000.00
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 21, 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: 101058859.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$50,000.00
- Cash
- $50,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $50,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Sep 8, 2025. 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: 101010787, 101032653.
Denton County Republican Lincoln Cabinet PAC
$25,000.00
- Cash
- $25,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $25,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Apr 8, 2026 to Apr 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Apr 21, 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: 101058859.
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 a super-expensive superintelligence, Nov 9, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Nov 9, 2026
11/09/2026 S Filed
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 10, 2026 at 2:40 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Subjects
Consumer Protection
Electronic Information Systems
Financial--General
Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions
CURRENCY & CURRENCY EXCHANGE
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Text
The text as introduced · 380 words
90R2270 PRL-D By: Hagenbuch S.B. No. 181 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to prohibiting the operation of virtual currency kiosks; imposing a civil penalty. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 3, Finance Code, is amended by adding Chapter 161 to read as follows: CHAPTER 161. VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSKS Sec. 161.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Electronic terminal" has the meaning assigned by Section 31.002. (2) "Virtual currency" has the meaning assigned by Section 12.001, Business & Commerce Code. (3) "Virtual currency kiosk" means an electronic terminal that facilitates the exchange of virtual currency for money, bank credit, or other virtual currency, including by: (A) connecting directly to a separate virtual currency exchange that performs the actual virtual currency transmission; or (B) drawing upon the virtual currency in the possession of the electronic terminal's operator. Sec. 161.002. OPERATION OF VIRTUAL CURRENCY KIOSK PROHIBITED. A person may not intentionally or knowingly: (1) operate a virtual currency kiosk located in this state for compensation; or (2) allow another person to operate a virtual currency kiosk in violation of Subdivision (1) on property located in this state that is owned, leased, or controlled by the person. Sec. 161.003. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates this chapter is liable to this state for a civil penalty in an amount equal to the revenue derived from the operation of the virtual currency kiosk, including fees and other charges collected from users of the virtual currency kiosk, during the period in which the violation occurred. (b) The attorney general may bring an action to recover the civil penalty imposed under Subsection (a). In addition to the civil penalty: (1) the attorney general may recover reasonable attorney's fees and court costs incurred in bringing an action under this subsection; and (2) the court may order the forfeiture and destruction of any virtual currency kiosk used in the violation that is owned by the person and located in this state. Sec. 161.004. DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICE. A violation of this chapter is a deceptive trade practice in addition to the practices described by Subchapter E, Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code, and is actionable under that subchapter. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.