Texas Codes

Tex. Penal Code § 7.22 (2026)

Criminal Responsibility Of Corporation, Association, Limited Liability Company, Or Other Business Entity

✓ current as of May 2026

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Sec. 7.22. CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY OF CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR OTHER BUSINESS ENTITY. (a) If conduct constituting an offense is performed by an agent acting in behalf of a corporation, an association, a limited liability company, or another business entity and within the scope of the agent's office or employment, the corporation, association, limited liability company, or other business entity is criminally responsible for an offense defined:

(1) in this code where corporations, associations, limited liability companies, and other business entities are made subject thereto;

(2) by law other than this code in which a legislative purpose to impose criminal responsibility on corporations, associations, limited liability companies, and other business entities plainly appears; or

(3) by law other than this code for which strict liability is imposed, unless a legislative purpose not to impose criminal responsibility on corporations, associations, limited liability companies, or other business entities plainly appears.

(b) A corporation, an association, a limited liability company, or another business entity is criminally responsible for a felony offense only if its commission was authorized, requested, commanded, performed, or recklessly tolerated by:

(1) a majority of the governing body acting in behalf of the corporation, association, limited liability company, or other business entity; or

(2) a high managerial agent acting in behalf of the corporation, association, limited liability company, or other business entity and within the scope of the agent's office or employment.

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 883, ch. 399, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 913, ch. 342, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1975; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 900, Sec. 1.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 112 (S.B. 1258), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 7 cases, 1983–2014 · leading case: Johnson v. State, 967 S.W.2d 848 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998).

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Johnson v. State, 967 S.W.2d 848 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “For example Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 7.22 : Criminal Responsibility of Corporation or Association, provides: (a) If conduct constituting an offense is performed by an agent acting in behalf of a corporation or association and within the scope of his office or employment, the…”

Ex Parte Austin Indep. Sch. Dist., 23 S.W.3d 596 (Tex. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 7.22 (a) (West 1994) (imposing criminal responsibility on association for conduct performed by agent acting on behalf of association and within scope of employment).”

Slott v. State, 148 S.W.3d 624 (Tex. App. 2004). “Tex. Pen.Code Ann. § 7.22 (Vernon 2004). 4 .”

Granite Constr. Co. v. Superior Court, 45 A.L.R. 4th 1011 (Cal. Ct. App. 1983). “This case exempts corporations from prosecution for manslaughter because Texas Penal Code Ann. section 7.22(a) (Vernon 1974) uses the pronoun “he” to refer to offenders, and it accepts the argument that “soulless” corporations cannot formulate intent or, among other things, *472…”

Vaughan & Sons, Inc. v. State, 649 S.W.2d 677 (Tex. App. 1983). “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 7.22(a) (Vernon 1974).”

Ex Parte Austin Indep. Sch. Dist. (Tex. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “AISD filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in which it argued that Penal Code section 7.22(a) is unconstitutional because it: (1) interferes with the constitutionally mandated duty of county attorneys to "represent the State in all cases in the District and inferior courts…”

Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion (Tex. Att'y Gen. 2014). “See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 7.22 (West 2011); Vaughan & Sons, Inc.”

— Tex. Penal Code § 7.22(a) — 2 cases

Vaughan & Sons, Inc. v. State, 649 S.W.2d 677 (Tex. App. 1983). “Tex.Penal Code Ann. § 7.22(a) (Vernon 1974).”

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