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Bill

HB 4852

Relating to examination of the records of filing entities and foreign filing entities by the attorney general; creating a criminal offense.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Tom Oliverson

Expands Texas AG power to demand business records from filing entities with new criminal penalties for non-compliance or obstruction of investigations.

Left pending in committee
#attorneygeneral(v2811) #business&commerce--general(i0050) #courts--district(i0120) #internationalrelations(s0038) #intergovernmentalrelations(i0447)
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Bill Summary · HB 4852

Legislative bill overview

HB 4852 expands the Texas Attorney General's authority to examine records of filing entities (like corporations and LLCs) and foreign filing entities operating in Texas. The bill creates new criminal penalties for entities that fail to comply with the Attorney General's record examination requests or obstruct such investigations.

Why is this important

This legislation increases governmental oversight powers over business entities and creates new criminal liability for non-compliance. It affects companies, nonprofits, and foreign businesses operating in Texas by subjecting them to potential criminal prosecution for resisting regulatory investigations, which could impact business operations and legal compliance strategies.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of investigative power: The bill expands AG authority without clear limitations on when records can be demanded, potentially allowing investigations without traditional warrant or probable cause requirements
  • Criminal liability concerns: Creating criminal penalties for record obstruction raises questions about due process protections and whether the penalties are proportionate to business compliance violations
  • Compliance burden: Entities may face significant costs and operational disruption from broad record examination requests, especially foreign businesses with complex multi-state operations

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

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