HB 2017

AN ACT relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and

House Bill Gerdes | Schatzline | Leo Wilson | Pierson
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

Grayson's Law increases mandatory imprisonment to 10 years for certain offenses involving illegal entry and violent crimes, specifically targeting individuals who commit crimes after illegally entering the country. The law prohibits offenders from receiving community supervision or early parole and requires them to serve a full 10-year calendar sentence without consideration of good conduct time. This legislation aims to create stricter penalties for individuals who commit serious offenses after unlawful entry into the United States.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and
changing the eligibility for community supervision, mandatory
supervision, and parole for certain persons convicted of
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as Grayson's Law.
SECTION 2.  Section 49.08, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c)  The minimum term of imprisonment for an offense under
this section is increased to 10 years if it is shown on the trial of
the offense that at the time of the offense the person was present
in this country following the commission of an offense under
SECTION 3.  Article 42A.059, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
Art. 42A.059.  PLACEMENT ON COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
PROHIBITED FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES INVOLVING ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO THIS
STATE.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a
defendant is not eligible for community supervision, including
deferred adjudication community supervision, under this chapter if
the defendant is charged with or convicted of an offense under:
(1)  Chapter 51, Penal Code; or
(2)  Section 49.08, Penal Code, if the offense is
punishable under Subsection (c) of that section.
SECTION 4.  Section 508.145, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:
(e-1)  An inmate serving a sentence for an offense punishable
under Section 49.08(c), Penal Code, is not eligible for release on
parole until the actual calendar time served, without consideration
of good conduct time, equals 10 years.
SECTION 5.  Section 508.147, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-1) and Section
508.149, a parole panel shall order the release of an inmate who is
not on parole to mandatory supervision when the actual calendar
time the inmate has served plus any accrued good conduct time equals
the term to which the inmate was sentenced.
(a-1)  An inmate serving a sentence for an offense punishable
under Section 49.08(c), Penal Code, may not be released to
(1)  the inmate's actual calendar time served, without
consideration of good conduct time, equals at least 10 years; and
(2)  the inmate is otherwise eligible for release under
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 History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and