89R4345 BCH-D     By: Morales of Maverick H.B. No. 4418       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the authority of a county attorney or district attorney   to enforce human trafficking awareness and prevention in commercial   lodging establishments.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 114.0102, Business & Commerce Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 114.0102.  OPPORTUNITY TO CURE. If the attorney   general or the county or district attorney of the county in which a   commercial lodging establishment is located has reason to believe   an operator of a commercial lodging establishment has violated this   chapter, the attorney general, county attorney, or district   attorney shall provide written notice to the operator that:                (1)  describes the operator's violation;                (2)  states that the commercial lodging establishment   may be liable for a civil penalty if the operator does not cure the   violation before the 30th day after the date the operator receives   the notice; and                (3)  includes the maximum potential civil penalty that   may be imposed for the violation.          SECTION 2.  Section 114.0104, Business & Commerce Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 114.0104.  ACTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL OR COUNTY OR   DISTRICT ATTORNEY. (a) The attorney general or a county attorney   or district attorney may bring an action in the name of the state:                (1)  to recover a civil penalty imposed under Section   114.0103; or                (2)  for injunctive relief to require compliance with   this chapter.          (b)  An action under this section by the attorney general may   be brought in a district court in:                (1)  Travis County; or                (2)  a county in which any part of the violation or   threatened violation occurs.          (b-1)  An action under this section by a county attorney or   district attorney shall be brought in a district court in a county   in which any part of the violation or threatened violation occurs.          (c)  The attorney general, county attorney, or district   attorney may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining   injunctive relief or a civil penalty under this section, including   court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and investigatory costs.          (d)  A civil penalty recovered by a county attorney or   district attorney under this section is payable to the county in   which the district court that heard the action is located.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.