H.B. No. 4281         AN ACT   relating to a civil cause of action for fraudulent crowdfunding.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Title 4, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 100B to read as follows:   CHAPTER 100B. LIABILITY FOR FRAUDULENT CROWDFUNDING           Sec. 100B.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "fraudulent   crowdfunding" means collecting donations on behalf of a donee with   the intent to keep the donations instead of giving the donations to   the donee on whose behalf the donations were made.          Sec. 100B.002.  LIABILITY FOR FRAUDULENT CROWDFUNDING. A   person who engages in fraudulent crowdfunding is liable to the   donee on whose behalf the donations were made or the donee's estate.          Sec. 100B.003.  DAMAGES. (a)  A court shall award a donee or   donee's estate who prevails in an action brought under this   chapter:                (1)  125 percent of the amount of donations the   defendant collected on behalf of the donee through the fraudulent   crowdfunding; and                (2)  reasonable and necessary attorney's fees.          (b)  Nothing in this section prevents the donee or the   donee's estate from pursuing a claim for exemplary damages under   Chapter 41 for the defendant's fraudulent crowdfunding.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 100B, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,   as added by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues   on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 4281 was passed by the House on May   14, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 4281 was passed by the Senate on May   26, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor