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HB 278TEXASSession 891State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Texas bill requires license revocation for businesses found guilty of disaster price gouging

Original title: Relating to the revocation of certain licenses of persons found to have engaged in price gouging during a declared disaster.

Last action · August 5, 2025: FiledSponsor: Lauren Simmons

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Official description

Relating to the revocation of certain licenses of persons found to have engaged in price gouging during a declared disaster.

Why it matters

Licensed merchants and professionals face permanent loss of their operating permits upon a first or second court finding of disaster .

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Licensed businesses and professionals under TDLR and TDA

State-issued licenses may be revoked if the holder is found by a court to have engaged in price gouging during a declared disaster.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state agencies are responsible for revoking licenses under this bill?

The Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

When must notice of a price gouging violation be sent to the licensing authority?

Not later than the 30th day after the date the attorney general or a consumer prevails in an action.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.

Procedural history

1 action

Aug 5, 2025HouseIntroduced
Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Lauren Simmons, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

PersonLauren Simmons“Bill author and sponsor in the lower house”Map →

OrganizationTexas Department of Agriculture“Licensing authority required to revoke licenses upon receiving notice of price g”Map →

OrganizationTexas Department of Licensing and Regulation“Licensing authority required to revoke licenses upon receiving notice of price g”Map →

Sources

Open source document

capitol.texas.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
Controversy35
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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