Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has secured a temporary restraining order against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue Inc. after a district court found good cause to believe the companies violated state requirements for foreign entities doing business in Texas.
According to the order and court filings, Johnson & Johnson’s registration with the Texas Secretary of State has lapsed into inactive status, while Kenvue and Kenvue Brands LLC have never registered to conduct business in Texas despite selling consumer products statewide.
Foreign entities are required under the Texas Business Organizations Code, Chapter 9, to register and maintain active status before transacting business in the State.
The temporary restraining order states that both companies must register to do business in Texas and, upon doing so, consent to personal jurisdiction in Texas courts. A hearing is scheduled for December 15, 2025, when the court will determine whether Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue must halt Texas business operations if they have not complied with registration requirements.
“I will not allow Big Pharma to operate above the law or put their greed ahead of Texans’ well-being,” Paxton said in a statement. “Kenvue and J&J have shown themselves to be corporations focused on seeking profits above all else, no matter how unethical or illegal their actions may be. The reign of these foreign corporations operating in Texas without even registering or acknowledging our laws ends now.”
The State’s petition asserts that both companies have engaged in substantial business within Texas, including selling widely distributed consumer brands, entering into contracts with major retailers, advertising to Texas residents, and employing Texas-based workers. It also states that neither company maintained the required registration or a registered agent for service of process, as mandated by state law.
Under Chapter 9, unregistered foreign entities may be enjoined from conducting business in Texas and may be liable for civil penalties equal to unpaid fees, taxes, and associated penalties had they registered when first required.
The temporary restraining order remains in effect until the December 15 hearing.
