HB 1303

AN ACT relating to certain criminal offenses involving illegal entry into

House Bill Hopper
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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Fiscal Note

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What This Bill Does

This Texas bill increases criminal penalties for illegal entry or presence in the state, escalating offenses from misdemeanors to felonies with varying degrees based on prior convictions and removal history. The bill restricts peace officers from arresting individuals on the premises of schools, churches, healthcare facilities, and sexual assault survivor support centers when seeking medical treatment or forensic examinations. The changes in law will apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, potentially impacting immigrants and law enforcement practices across Texas.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to certain criminal offenses involving illegal entry into
or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien,
including the enforcement of those offenses; increasing criminal
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Article 5B.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
Art. 5B.001.  ENFORCEMENT PROHIBITED IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS.
Notwithstanding any other law, a peace officer may not arrest or
detain a person for purposes of enforcing a provision of Chapter 51,
Penal Code, if the person is on the premises or grounds of:
(1)  [a public or private primary or secondary school
[(2)  a church, synagogue, or other established place
[(3)]  a health care facility, as defined by Section
161.471, Health and Safety Code, including a facility a state
agency maintains or operates to provide health care, or the office
of a health care provider, as defined by Section 161.471, Health and
Safety Code, provided that the person is on the premises or grounds
of the facility or office for the purpose of receiving medical
treatment relating to an offense committed against the person; or
(2) [(4)]  a SAFE-ready facility, as defined by Section
323.001, Health and Safety Code, or another facility that provides
forensic medical examinations to sexual assault survivors in
accordance with Chapter 323, Health and Safety Code, provided that
the person is on the premises or grounds of the facility for
purposes of obtaining a forensic medical examination and treatment.
SECTION 2.  Section 51.02(b), Penal Code, is amended to read
(b)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony
[Class B misdemeanor], except that the offense is a [state jail]
felony of the third degree if it is shown on the trial of the offense
that the defendant has been previously convicted of an offense
SECTION 3.  Section 51.03(b), Penal Code, is amended to read
(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third
degree [Class A misdemeanor], except that the offense is:
(1)  a felony of the second [third] degree if:
(A)  the defendant's removal was subsequent to a
conviction for commission of two or more misdemeanors involving
drugs, crimes against a person, or both;
(B)  the defendant was excluded pursuant to 8
U.S.C. Section 1225(c) because the defendant was excludable under 8
(C)  the defendant was removed pursuant to the
provisions of 8 U.S.C. Chapter 12, Subchapter V; or
(D)  the defendant was removed pursuant to 8
U.S.C. Section 1231(a)(4)(B); or
(2)  a felony of the first [second] degree if the
defendant was removed subsequent to a conviction for the commission
SECTION 4.  Section 51.04(b), Penal Code, is amended to read
(b)  An offense under this section is a felony of the first
SECTION 5.  Sections 51.02(c) and (d), Penal Code, are
SECTION 6.  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 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to certain criminal offenses involving illegal entry into