H.B. No. 149, known as the Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act, seeks to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) systems in Texas and establish civil penalties for violations. The bill amends the Business & Commerce Code to define AI systems and biometric identifiers, requiring individuals to be informed and give consent for the capture or storage of their biometric data for commercial purposes, particularly when sourced from publicly available media. It also outlines exceptions for certain uses of biometric data, such as security and AI model development, while introducing penalties for misuse. The legislation emphasizes consumer protection and transparency in AI deployment, prohibiting manipulative practices and social scoring by government entities.

Additionally, the bill creates a regulatory sandbox program that allows individuals to test AI systems without licensing, promoting innovation while ensuring compliance with legal standards. It establishes the Texas Artificial Intelligence Council to oversee ethical AI development and make recommendations for legislative improvements. The bill also enhances the evaluation criteria for state agencies regarding their cybersecurity practices and AI usage, while ensuring that agencies are not required to implement provisions without specific funding appropriations. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Commerce Code 503.001, Government Code 325.011, Government Code 2054.068, Government Code 2054.0965 (Government Code 2054, Commerce Code 503, Government Code 325)
House Committee Report: Commerce Code 503.001, Commerce Code 541.104, Government Code 325.011, Government Code 2054.068, Government Code 2054.0965 (Commerce Code 541, Government Code 2054, Commerce Code 503, Government Code 325)
Engrossed: Commerce Code 503.001, Commerce Code 541.104, Government Code 325.011, Government Code 2054.068, Government Code 2054.0965 (Commerce Code 541, Government Code 2054, Commerce Code 503, Government Code 325)
Senate Committee Report: Commerce Code 503.001, Commerce Code 541.104, Government Code 325.011, Government Code 2054.068, Government Code 2054.0965 (Commerce Code 541, Government Code 2054, Commerce Code 503, Government Code 325)
Enrolled: Commerce Code 503.001, Commerce Code 541.104, Government Code 325.011, Government Code 2054.068, Government Code 2054.0965 (Commerce Code 541, Government Code 2054, Commerce Code 503, Government Code 325)