HB 1790

relating to criminal penalties and defenses to prosecution for
certain drug possession and drug paraphernalia offenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 481.115(h), Health and Safety Code, is
(h)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (g) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.1151(b)(1),
481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b), 481.118(b), or
481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
[481.125(a),] 483.041(a), or 485.031(a)[;
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.1151(c), 481.116(f), 481.1161(c),
481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 2.  Section 481.1151(d), Health and Safety Code, is
(d)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b),
481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b), 481.118(b), or
481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
[481.125(a),] 483.041(a), or 485.031(a)[;
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.116(f), 481.1161(c),
481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 3.  Section 481.116(g), Health and Safety Code, is
(g)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (f) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b),
481.1151(b)(1), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b), 481.118(b), or
481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
[481.125(a),] 483.041(a), or 485.031(a)[;
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.1161(c),
481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 4.  Section 481.1161(d), Health and Safety Code, is
(d)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b),
481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.117(b), 481.118(b), or
481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
[481.125(a),] 483.041(a), or 485.031(a)[;
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 5.  Section 481.117(g), Health and Safety Code, is
(g)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (f) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b),
481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.118(b), or
481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
[481.125(a),] 483.041(a), or 485.031(a)[;
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
481.1161(c), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 6.  Section 481.118(g), Health and Safety Code, is
(g)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (f) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b),
481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b), or
481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section 481.119(b),
[481.125(a),] 483.041(a), or 485.031(a)[;
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 7.  Section 481.119(d), Health and Safety Code, is
(d)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b),
481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b),
481.118(b), or 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section
[481.125(a),] 483.041(a), or 485.031(a)[;
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.121(c), 481.125(g),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 8.  Sections 481.121(a), (b), and (d), Health and
Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a)  Except as authorized by this chapter, a person commits
an offense if the person knowingly or intentionally possesses a
usable quantity of marihuana greater than one ounce.
(b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is:
(1)  a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana
possessed is two ounces or less but more than one ounce;
(2)  a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana
possessed is four ounces or less but more than two ounces;
(3)  a state jail felony if the amount of marihuana
possessed is five pounds or less but more than four ounces;
(4)  a felony of the third degree if the amount of
marihuana possessed is 50 pounds or less but more than 5 pounds;
(5)  a felony of the second degree if the amount of
marihuana possessed is 2,000 pounds or less but more than 50 pounds;
(6)  a felony of the first degree punishable by
imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life
or for a term of not more than 99 years or less than 5 years, and a
fine not to exceed $50,000, if the amount of marihuana possessed is
(d)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b),
481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b), or
481.118(b), or an offense under Section 481.119(b), [481.125(a),]
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 483 or 485;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.125(g),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 9.  The heading to Section 481.125, Health and
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 481.125.  OFFENSE: [POSSESSION OR] DELIVERY OF DRUG
SECTION 10.  Section 483.041(f), Health and Safety Code, is
(f)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (e) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b),
481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b),
481.118(b), or 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section
481.119(b), [481.125(a),] or 485.031(a)[;
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 481 or 485;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 11.  Section 485.031(d), Health and Safety Code, is
(d)  The defense to prosecution provided by Subsection (c) is
[(1)]  at the time the request for emergency medical
(1) [(A)]  a peace officer was in the process of
arresting the actor or executing a search warrant describing the
actor or the place from which the request for medical assistance was
(2) [(B)]  the actor is committing another offense,
other than an offense punishable under Section 481.115(b),
481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(1) or (2), 481.117(b),
481.118(b), or 481.121(b)(1) or (2), or an offense under Section
481.119(b), [481.125(a),] or 483.041(a)[;
[(2)  the actor has been previously convicted of or
placed on deferred adjudication community supervision for an
offense under this chapter or Chapter 481 or 483;
[(3)  the actor was acquitted in a previous proceeding
in which the actor successfully established the defense under that
subsection or Section 481.115(g), 481.1151(c), 481.116(f),
481.1161(c), 481.117(f), 481.118(f), 481.119(c), 481.121(c),
[(4)  at any time during the 18-month period preceding
the date of the commission of the instant offense, the actor
requested emergency medical assistance in response to the possible
overdose of the actor or another person].
SECTION 12.  Sections 481.125(a), (d), (g), (h), and (i),
Health and Safety Code, are repealed.
SECTION 13.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), 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.
(b)  The change in law made by this Act to Section 481.125,
Health and Safety Code, applies to conduct that occurs before, on,
or after the effective date of this Act, except that a final
conviction for an offense that exists on the effective date of this
SECTION 14.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.