Texas Senate Bill 1970: No More County-Level Assumed Name Filings in Texas For Certain Entities

Good news. Texas has reduced the administrative burden of filing an assumed business name, commonly called a “dba” or “doing business as” name.

What is an assumed name? It is a name under which an entity conducts business that is not the legal name of the corporation as shown on its certificate of formation

Effective September 1, 2019, Texas will no longer require businesses to file assumed names in the county where the business has its principal office. Filing the certificate with the Secretary of State will be all that is required.

Texas was one of the few states that required registration of an assumed name at both the state and county level for domestic corporations, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, and foreign entities. Texas Senate Bill 1970 changes that and allows for the single state-level filing for those entities. However, this change does not apply to sole proprietors, general partnerships, estates or real estate investment trusts, and they should continue to file at the county level only.

Texas Senate Bill 1970’s amendment to the Assumed Business or Professional Name section (Title 5, Chapter 71) of Texas Business and Commerce Code to remove the county-level filing requirements is much appreciated.