HB 1037
AN ACT relating to the punishment for certain theft offenses.
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
This Texas bill modifies theft offense penalties by lowering the monetary thresholds that determine the severity of criminal charges. Under the new law, theft of property or services valued between $100-$300 will now be a Class C misdemeanor (previously $750), and theft of $300-$750 will be a Class A misdemeanor (previously $2,500), which increases potential penalties for lower-value thefts. The changes affect individuals committing theft across various contexts, including property, services, and merchandise, and will apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the punishment for certain theft offenses. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 31.03(e), Penal Code, is amended to read (e) Except as provided by Subsections (f) and (f-1), an (1) a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the property (A) the value of the property stolen is $100 or more but less than $300 [$750]; (B) the value of the property stolen is less than $100 and the defendant has previously been convicted of any grade of (C) the property stolen is a driver's license, commercial driver's license, or personal identification certificate issued by this state or another state; (3) a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property stolen is $300 [$750] or more but less than $750 [$2,500]; (A) the value of the property stolen is $750 [$2,500] or more but less than $30,000, or the property is less than 10 head of sheep, swine, or goats or any part thereof under the (B) regardless of value, the property is stolen from the person of another or from a human corpse or grave, including property that is a military grave marker; (C) the property stolen is a firearm; (D) the value of the property stolen is less than $750 [$2,500] and the defendant has been previously convicted two or more times of any grade of theft; (E) the property stolen is an official ballot or official carrier envelope for an election; (F) the value of the property stolen is less than $30,000 [$20,000] and the property stolen is: (G) the cost of replacing the property stolen is less than $30,000 and the property stolen is a catalytic converter; (5) a felony of the third degree if the value of the property stolen is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000, or the (A) cattle, horses, or exotic livestock or exotic fowl as defined by Section 142.001, Agriculture Code, stolen during a single transaction and having an aggregate value of less than (B) 10 or more head of sheep, swine, or goats stolen during a single transaction and having an aggregate value of (C) a controlled substance, having a value of less than $150,000, if stolen from: (i) a commercial building in which a controlled substance is generally stored, including a pharmacy, clinic, hospital, nursing facility, or warehouse; or (ii) a vehicle owned or operated by a wholesale distributor of prescription drugs; (6) a felony of the second degree if: (A) the value of the property stolen is $150,000 or more but less than $300,000; or (B) the value of the property stolen is less than $300,000 and the property stolen is an automated teller machine or the contents or components of an automated teller machine; or (7) a felony of the first degree if the value of the property stolen is $300,000 or more. SECTION 2. Section 31.04(e), Penal Code, is amended to read (e) An offense under this section is: (1) a Class C misdemeanor if the value of the service (2) a Class B misdemeanor if the value of the service stolen is $100 or more but less than $300 [$750]; (3) a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the service stolen is $300 [$750] or more but less than $750 [$2,500]; (4) a state jail felony if the value of the service stolen is $750 [$2,500] or more but less than $30,000; (5) a felony of the third degree if the value of the service stolen is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000; (6) a felony of the second degree if the value of the service stolen is $150,000 or more but less than $300,000; or (7) a felony of the first degree if the value of the service stolen is $300,000 or more. SECTION 3. Section 31.16(c), Penal Code, is amended to read (c) An offense under this section is: (1) a Class C misdemeanor if the total value of the merchandise involved in the activity is less than $100; (2) a Class B misdemeanor if the total value of the merchandise involved in the activity is $100 or more but less than (3) a Class A misdemeanor if the total value of the merchandise involved in the activity is $300 [$750] or more but less (4) a state jail felony if the total value of the merchandise involved in the activity is $750 [$2,500] or more but (5) a felony of the third degree if the total value of the merchandise involved in the activity is $30,000 or more but less (6) a felony of the second degree if the total value of the merchandise involved in the activity is $150,000 or more but (7) a felony of the first degree if the total value of the merchandise involved in the activity is $300,000 or more. SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the punishment for certain theft offenses.
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