Texas - Session 892
Title: Relating to measures to prevent and reduce fraudulent charitable solicitations and theft during declared disasters, including establishing a designation program for disaster relief nonprofit organizations and financial institutions; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.
During the catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country, the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department of Kerr County lost most of its fire station to floodwaters while conducting rescue and recovery operations. As the department sought donations, fraudulent charitable solicitation schemes exploited the tragedy by impersonating the department, deceiving donors into sending money for personal gain. Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation after these schemes were reported, citing the need to protect both disaster victims and charitable donors from predatory actors. This incident, coupled with broader reports of disaster-related fraudulent activity—including fake nonprofits, fraudulent missing-person hotlines, and false volunteer solicitations—brought the issue to the bill author's attention.
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| Date | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-15 | Introduced | Bill introduced |
| 2025-09-17 | Status | introduced |
| 2025-09-17 | Latest Action | Effective on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 4, 2025 |
| Bill | Title | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SB 12 | Relating to the duty of the attorney general to prosecute criminal offenses prescribed by the election laws of this state. | introduced |
| SB 5 | Relating to making supplemental appropriations for disaster relief and preparedness and giving direction and adjustment authority regarding those appropriations. | introduced |
| HB 16 | Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court security, court documents and arrest warrants, document delivery, juvenile boards, constitutional amendment election challenges, record retention, youth diversion, court-ordered mental health services, the powers of the Texas Supreme Court, jurors, and the special prosecution unit; increasing a criminal penalty; authorizing fees. | introduced |
| SB 11 | Relating to an affirmative defense to prosecution for certain victims of trafficking of persons or compelling prostitution. | introduced |
| SB 16 | Relating to real property theft and real property fraud; establishing recording requirements for certain documents concerning real property; creating the criminal offenses of real property theft and real property fraud and establishing a statute of limitations, restitution, and certain procedures with respect to those offenses. | introduced |
| HB 192 | Relating to the funding of law enforcement agencies in certain counties. | introduced |
| HB 1 | Relating to youth camp emergency plans and preparedness; authorizing penalties. | introduced |
| SB 1 | Relating to campground and youth camp safety. | introduced |