🟡Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offenses of prohibited barratry and solicitation of professional employment
HB 2733
🟡 HB 2733: Expands Texas Barratry Law to Social Media
What it says it does:
HB 2733 updates Texas’ barratry statute to include digital and social media outreach. It makes it illegal for professionals like lawyers, doctors, or chiropractors to solicit clients through direct messages or other electronic communications after an accident or disaster.
What it actually changes:
This bill extends criminal penalties to cover digital contact, but it also adds vague new language about “false, misleading, or deceptive” communication. That opens a gray area where prosecutors or the State Bar can decide what counts as an offense. It shifts more power to regulators and established firms while restricting digital competition.
Who is pushing for it:
Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Texas Watch, Thomas J. Henry Law, and the State Bar of Texas all supported or testified on the bill. These groups often disagree, but here they aligned to tighten professional control over client outreach.
Who benefits:
Large, established law firms and professional associations gain more control over digital marketing space. Regulators and disciplinary boards gain stronger enforcement authority over professionals who communicate online.
Who gets left out or exposed:
Smaller law firms, solo practitioners, and rural professionals who rely on online visibility to reach clients could be penalized for marketing that falls into a gray zone. Everyday Texans may also face fewer affordable options for representation.
Why this matters long term:
HB 2733 could set precedent for broader regulation of online advertising and communication by professionals. If “misleading” remains undefined, future laws could stretch this standard into other industries, tightening control over digital speech.
What to watch next:
Whether prosecutors and the State Bar apply this law evenly or selectively. Watch for future attempts to expand this digital restriction model into advertising or nonprofit outreach rules.
Bottom line:
HB 2733 sounds like consumer protection, but it risks entrenching industry power and narrowing access to justice. The real test will be whether it’s used to protect Texans, or to protect the market share of those already on top.
#HB2733 #TexasPolicy #WatchTheRules #LegalReform #DigitalRegulation #ConsumerRights