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Bill

HB 491

Relating to certain civil penalties collected for violations of laws regulating massage therapy.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Bob Hall and 3 co-sponsors

HB 491 modifies the handling of civil penalties from massage therapy regulation violations in Texas, affecting enforcement funding and regulatory oversight capacity.

Left pending in committee
#citygovernment--finance(i0062) #civilremedies&liabilities(i0065) #countygovernment--finance(i0097) #crimes--againstpersons--sexual(i0171) #humantrafficking(s0696) #massagetherapy&massagetherapists(s1298) #occupationalregulation--othertrades&professions(i0541)
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Bill Summary · HB 491

Legislative bill overview

HB 491 modifies how Texas handles civil penalties collected from violations of massage therapy regulations. The bill appears to redirect or adjust the disposition of these penalty funds collected by state regulatory authorities. Specific details on the exact mechanism and fund destination are not provided in the available bill summary.

Why is this important

Civil penalties serve dual purposes: deterring violations and generating revenue for regulatory enforcement. Changes to how these funds are collected or allocated can affect the Texas Massage Therapy Board's enforcement capacity, consumer protection resources, and state revenue. The bill's treatment of penalty funds directly impacts the financial sustainability of massage therapy regulation.

Potential points of contention

  • Enforcement funding concerns: If penalties are redirected away from the regulatory board, enforcement capacity and consumer protection investigations may be reduced, potentially allowing violations to increase
  • Revenue allocation disputes: Disagreement over whether penalty funds should go to general revenue, consumer protection programs, or remain with the regulatory board for enforcement operations
  • Industry impact uncertainty: Massage therapy businesses may face different regulatory environments depending on how enforcement resources are affected by the fund reallocation

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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