Relating to the prosecution of the criminal offenses of prohibited barratry and solicitation of professional employment.

More protection from unwanted professional pitches

Texas expands criminal limits on seeking professional work to cover social media direct messages and other electronic messages. These limits apply to people seeking an economic benefit for themselves or someone else, including through deceptive electronic messages. Separate limits cover lawyers, chiropractors, physicians, surgeons, Texas-licensed private investigators, and professionals licensed, certified, or registered by Texas health care regulators. They cannot send or knowingly allow prohibited pitches to people who have not sought their services. These rules cover written pitches, in-person contacts, calls, and electronic messages intended to gain professional work. Prohibited pitches include personal injury, wrongful death, or accident-related contacts before day 31 after an accident or disaster involving the recipient or a relative. They also include pitches about a specific legal matter where the recipient has a lawyer. Pitches about lawsuits against the recipient or a relative are barred unless the suit has been filed for more than 31 days. The rules also bar contact after a stated wish not to be contacted, improper pressure, harassment, fraud, and false, misleading, deceptive, or unfair claims. The changes apply only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025; earlier offenses remain under prior law.