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Senator Nathan Johnson’s First-Day Legislation

On the first day of early filing, State Senator Nathan Johnson filed bills to address major needs in a growing state.

Senator Nathan Johnson’s First-Day Legislation

Protecting Texans from Online Scammers & Fake Accounts

News Release                                                                                                          
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           
Mar. 28, 2025

SENATOR JOHNSON FILES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT TEXANS FROM THE MISUSE OF BOTS

AUSTIN, Texas – Senator Nathan Johnson has filed two important bills to protect Texans from rampant online deception, misinformation, and fraud from automated social media accounts, commonly known as “bots.”

“The unethical and malevolent use of bots poses a menacing threat to commerce, culture, personal and public safety, and democracy. This is no exaggeration. It’s important that our regulatory protections advance in step with the misuse of advancing technology.”

SB 2637 Social Media Bots Transparency Act. This bill requires social media platforms to clearly label bot accounts — automated programs designed to mimic human activity. The bill also requires platforms to provide warnings that bot accounts may spread misinformation and establishes civil penalties of up to $7,500 for each violation of the law.

SB 2638 Digital Deception Prevention Act. This bill prohibits the use of bot accounts to mislead Texans into commercial transactions and requires clear disclosure when bots are used for business purposes. It also classifies deceptive bot usage as a fraudulent trade practice and expressly prohibits their role in election interference.

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About Senator Nathan Johnson: Senator Nathan Johnson was re-elected in 2024 to serve a third term in the Texas Senate. He represents almost a million Dallas County residents in the growing and rapidly diversifying Senate District 16. With eight years of legislative experience, Senator Johnson serves on several key Senate committees, including Business and Commerce, Jurisprudence (Vice-Chair), Economic Development, Transportation, and Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs.

Senator Johnson Files Legislation to Protect Texans from the Misuse of Bots

News Release                                                                                                          
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           
Mar. 20, 2025

SENATOR JOHNSON FILES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT TEXANS FROM THE MISUSE OF BOTS 

AUSTIN, Texas – Senator Nathan Johnson has filed two important bills to protect Texans from rampant online deception, misinformation, and fraud from automated social media accounts, commonly known as “bots.” 

“The unethical and malevolent use of bots poses a menacing threat to commerce, culture, personal and public safety, and democracy. This is no exaggeration. It’s important that our regulatory protections advance in step with the misuse of advancing technology.” 

SB 2637 Social Media Bots Transparency Act. This bill requires social media platforms to clearly label bot accounts — automated programs designed to mimic human activity. The bill also requires platforms to provide warnings that bot accounts may spread misinformation and establishes civil penalties of up to $7,500 for each violation of the law. 

SB 2638 Digital Deception Prevention Act. This bill prohibits the use of bot accounts to mislead Texans into commercial transactions and requires clear disclosure when bots are used for business purposes. It also classifies deceptive bot usage as a fraudulent trade practice and expressly prohibits their role in election interference. 

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About Senator Nathan Johnson: Senator Nathan Johnson was re-elected in 2024 to serve a third term in the Texas Senate. He represents almost a million Dallas County residents in the growing and rapidly diversifying Senate District 16. With eight years of legislative experience, Senator Johnson serves on several key Senate committees, including Business and Commerce, Jurisprudence (Vice-Chair), Economic Development, Transportation, and Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs.

Senator Johnson Files SJR 82

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                           
Mar. 17, 2025

STATE SENATOR JOHNSON FILES SJR 82 TO PUT
DESTINATION GAMING RESORTS TO THE VOTERS

AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday March 14th, Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas) filed Senate Joint Resolution 82 (SJR 82) to put to the voters the question of whether destination resorts that include strictly regulated casino gaming should be authorized in Texas. The resolution would not itself authorize or create gaming destination resorts; it would only remove the present constitutional ban, and impose strict parameters around gaming, sports wagering, and the Texas lottery.

“Where there is a disconnect between what the Legislature will do and what the voters want, the issue may best be decided directly by voters. I filed SJR 82 to give the voters the right to decide this one. I sincerely hope my colleagues in the Senate feel the same way,” said Senator Johnson. “Polls consistently show that more than 80% of Texans want the right to vote to decide this issue. It makes sense for the Legislature to let that happen.”

In related action, Johnson also filed SJR 14 this session, to create a statewide right of initiative and referendum for Texas voters to bring any issue to the ballot.

If approved by the voters in November, SJR 82 would make it possible for the legislature to authorize and strictly regulate casino gaming and sports wagering. At a minimum, the law must:

  1. Define what constitutes casino gaming and sports wagering.

  2. Strictly regulate casino gaming, sports wagering, the state lottery, and bingo through an agency funded by fees and taxes on the industry.

  3. Determine how and where casino gaming and sports wagering may be conducted.

  4. Limit the number of casino gaming licenses.

  5. Require licenses, application fees, and a gaming revenue tax on operators of casino gaming and sports wagering.

To clarify his intent, Johnson added, “I’m not promoting casino gaming with this resolution. I’m promoting the option to have it, along with my belief that – when the Legislature will not act on the issue – Texans should be able decide whether a constitutional prohibition enacted 150 years ago is relevant today.”

SJR 82 also addresses the serious issues of regulating the troubled Texas Lottery, and regulating and enforcing the law regarding the rampant, illegal, and predatory gaming market in Texas.

“Should the voters decide to change the constitution, a limited, well-regulated industry of superior destination resorts – one that operates subject to strict enforcement of the law – will bring billions of dollars in construction investments and convention and tourism business, tens of thousands of permanent jobs, and all the dynamic revenue that follows. Oh, and billions of dollars in voluntary tax revenue,” said Senator Johnson. 

Johnson also highlighted the economic relevance of SJR 82. “For several sessions now the Texas Legislature has been making huge, recurring financial commitments. That’s easy to do in a time of budget surplus. But budget surpluses are not perpetual, and I believe that legislators are obliged to ensure that our revenue options in the future will allow us to meet the commitments we’ve made – and even to meet some that we should have been making. I’m talking about property tax reductions, teacher pay raises and education funding, water infrastructure, the grid, law enforcement, and more.

While missing out on revenue from destination tourism, Texans spend billions of vacation and tourism dollars at casinos and resorts in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Nevada. Worse, they also spend billions on illegal gaming in our own state. “The state of Texas receives no benefit from this economic activity, nor do we effectively regulate it to protect consumers. I’m putting to the voters whether we should change that.”

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About Senator Nathan Johnson: Senator Nathan Johnson was re-elected in 2024 to serve a third term in the Texas Senate. He represents almost a million Dallas County residents in the growing and rapidly diversifying Senate District 16. With eight years of legislative experience, Senator Johnson serves on several key Senate committees, including Business and Commerce, Jurisprudence (Vice-Chair), Economic Development, Transportation, and Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs.