United States of America: Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Bill (HB 149) including consumer protection measures was passed by State House

On 23 April 2025, the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Bill (HB 149) was passed by the State House. The Bill enforces consumer protection measures under Chapter 552, Business and Commerce Code. It mandates that any governmental agency or entity deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems for consumer interaction must provide clear and conspicuous disclosures prior to engagement, irrespective of whether the AI’s nature is obvious. Disclosures must avoid dark patterns (as defined in Section 541.001) and may be delivered via hyperlink or, in healthcare contexts, embedded in patient consent forms. The Bill prohibits AI systems designed to manipulate human behaviour (e.g., inciting self-harm or criminal activity) and bans social scoring by governmental entities to prevent discriminatory categorisation based on inferred personal characteristics. Violations incur civil penalties ranging from USD 10'000 to 200'000, with a 60-day cure period for remediable breaches.