HB 2055
AN ACT relating to the punishment for a capital felony committed by an
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
Raises the minimum age for capital punishment and life sentences in Texas from 18 to 21 years old. For individuals who commit a capital felony under age 21, the punishment would be life imprisonment, while those 21 and older could receive life without parole or potentially face the death penalty if the state seeks it. The law applies to criminal actions pending or commenced on or after September 1, 2025, and does not impact existing final convictions.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the punishment for a capital felony committed by an individual younger than 21 years of age. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 8.07(c), Penal Code, is amended to read (c) No person may, in any case, be punished by death for an offense committed while the person was younger than 21 [18] years. SECTION 2. Section 12.31, Penal Code, is amended to read as Sec. 12.31. CAPITAL FELONY. (a) An individual adjudged guilty of a capital felony in a case in which the state seeks the death penalty shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life without parole or by death. An individual adjudged guilty of a capital felony in a case in which the state does not seek the death penalty shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for: (1) life, if the individual committed the offense when younger than 21 [18] years of age; or (2) life without parole, if the individual committed the offense when 21 [18] years of age or older. (b) In a capital felony trial in which the state seeks the death penalty, prospective jurors shall be informed that a sentence of life imprisonment without parole or death is mandatory on conviction of a capital felony. In a capital felony trial in which the state does not seek the death penalty, prospective jurors shall be informed that the state is not seeking the death penalty and (1) a sentence of life imprisonment is mandatory on conviction of the capital felony, if the individual committed the offense when younger than 21 [18] years of age; or (2) a sentence of life imprisonment without parole is mandatory on conviction of the capital felony, if the individual committed the offense when 21 [18] years of age or older. SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act: (1) applies to a criminal action pending, on appeal, or commenced on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the criminal action is based on an offense committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act; and (2) does not affect a final conviction that exists on the effective date of this Act. SECTION 4. 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 a capital felony committed by an
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