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HB 2183

AN ACT relating to criminal penalties for possession offenses under the

House Bill Meza
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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What This Bill Does

Modifies Texas criminal penalties for controlled substance possession by adjusting the classification and severity of drug possession offenses. It reduces penalties for certain drug possession amounts, eliminates some higher-level felony categories for drug possession, and prevents previous drug convictions from being used to enhance future sentencing. The changes aim to reduce the criminal justice system's impact on drug possession offenses, potentially lowering incarceration rates and providing more proportional punishments based on the quantity of controlled substances possessed.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to criminal penalties for possession offenses under the
Texas Controlled Substances Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1.  POSSESSION OFFENSE PENALTIES
SECTION 1.01.  Section 481.115(c), Health and Safety Code,
(c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
degree with a maximum term of imprisonment of five years if the
amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate
weight, including adulterants or dilutants, one gram or more [but
SECTION 1.02.  Section 481.1151(b), Health and Safety Code,
(b)  An offense under this section is:
(1)  a state jail felony if the number of abuse units of
the controlled substance is fewer than 20; and
(2)  a felony of the third degree with a maximum term of
imprisonment of five years if the number of abuse units of the
controlled substance is 20 or more [but fewer than 80;
[(3)  a felony of the second degree if the number of
abuse units of the controlled substance is 80 or more but fewer than
[(4)  a felony of the first degree if the number of
abuse units of the controlled substance is 4,000 or more but fewer
[(5)  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 15 years and a
fine not to exceed $250,000, if the number of abuse units of the
controlled substance is 8,000 or more].
SECTION 1.03.  Section 481.116(c), Health and Safety Code,
(c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
degree with a maximum term of imprisonment of five years if the
amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate
weight, including adulterants or dilutants, one gram or more [but
SECTION 1.04.  Section 481.1161(b), Health and Safety Code,
(b)  An offense under this section is:
(1)  a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of the
controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including
adulterants or dilutants, two ounces or less;
(2)  a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of the
controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including
adulterants or dilutants, four ounces or less but more than two
(3)  a state jail felony if the amount of the controlled
substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including adulterants
or dilutants, five pounds or less but more than four ounces; and
(4)  a felony of the third degree with a maximum term of
imprisonment of five years if the amount of the controlled
substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including adulterants
or dilutants, [50 pounds or less but] more than 5 pounds[;
[(5)  a felony of the second degree if the amount of the
controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including
adulterants or dilutants, 2,000 pounds or less but more than 50
[(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 the controlled
substance possessed is, by aggregate weight, including adulterants
or dilutants, more than 2,000 pounds].
SECTION 1.05.  Section 481.117(c), Health and Safety Code,
(c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
degree with a maximum term of imprisonment of five years if the
amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate
weight, including adulterants or dilutants, 28 grams or more [but
SECTION 1.06.  Section 481.118(c), Health and Safety Code,
(c)  An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the third
degree with a maximum term of imprisonment of five years if the
amount of the controlled substance possessed is, by aggregate
weight, including adulterants or dilutants, 28 grams or more [but
SECTION 1.07.  Section 481.121(b), Health and Safety Code,
(b)  An offense under Subsection (a) is:
(1)  a Class B misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana
possessed is two ounces or less;
(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; and
(4)  a felony of the third degree with a maximum term of
imprisonment of five years 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
SECTION 1.08.  Sections 481.134(c), (d), (e), and (f),
Health and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
(c)  The minimum term of confinement or imprisonment for an
offense otherwise punishable under Section 481.112(c), (d), (e), or
(f), 481.1121(b)(2), (3), or (4), 481.1123(b), (c), (d), (e), or
(f), 481.113(c), (d), or (e), 481.114(c), (d), or (e), or
[481.115(c)-(f), 481.1151(b)(2), (3), (4), or (5), 481.116(c),
(d), or (e), 481.1161(b)(4), (5), or (6), 481.117(c), (d), or (e),
481.118(c), (d), or (e),] 481.120(b)(4), (5), or (6)[, or
481.121(b)(4), (5), or (6)] is increased by five years and the
maximum fine for the offense is doubled if it is shown on the trial
of the offense that the offense was committed:
(1)  in, on, or within 1,000 feet of the premises of a
school, the premises of a public or private youth center, or a
(3)  by any unauthorized person 18 years of age or
older, in, on, or within 1,000 feet of premises owned, rented, or
leased by a general residential operation operating as a
(d)  An offense otherwise punishable under Section
481.112(b), 481.1121(b)(1), 481.113(b), 481.114(b), or
[481.115(b), 481.1151(b)(1), 481.116(b), 481.1161(b)(3),]
481.120(b)(3) [, or 481.121(b)(3)] is a felony of the third degree
if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the offense was
(1)  in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property
that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the
premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground;
(3)  by any unauthorized person 18 years of age or
older, in, on, or within 1,000 feet of premises owned, rented, or
leased by a general residential operation operating as a
(e)  An offense otherwise punishable under Section
[481.117(b),] 481.119(a) or [,] 481.120(b)(2) [, or 481.121(b)(2)]
is a state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense
that the offense was committed:
(1)  in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property
that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the
premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground;
(3)  by any unauthorized person 18 years of age or
older, in, on, or within 1,000 feet of premises owned, rented, or
leased by a general residential operation operating as a
(f)  An offense otherwise punishable under Section
[481.118(b), 481.119(b),] 481.120(b)(1) [, or 481.121(b)(1)] is a
Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense that
(1)  in, on, or within 1,000 feet of any real property
that is owned, rented, or leased to a school or school board, the
premises of a public or private youth center, or a playground;
(3)  by any unauthorized person 18 years of age or
older, in, on, or within 1,000 feet of premises owned, rented, or
leased by a general residential operation operating as a
SECTION 1.09.  The following provisions of the Health and
(1)  Sections 481.115(d), (e), and (f);
(2)  Sections 481.116(d) and (e);
(3)  Sections 481.117(d) and (e); and
(4)  Sections 481.118(d) and (e).
SECTION 2.01.  Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Penal Code, is
amended by adding Section 12.495 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.495.  DRUG POSSESSION OFFENSES NOT SUBJECT TO
ENHANCEMENT.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
(1)  a previous conviction for an offense under Section
481.115, 481.1151, 481.116, 481.1161, 481.117, 481.118,
481.119(b), 481.121, or 481.125(a), Health and Safety Code, may not
be used for enhancement purposes under this subchapter; and
(2)  a previous conviction for any offense may not be
used for enhancing an offense under Section 481.115, 481.1151,
481.116, 481.1161, 481.117, 481.118, 481.119(b), 481.121, or
481.125(a), Health and Safety Code, under any provision of this
SECTION 3.01.  Section 481.126, Health and Safety Code, is
Sec. 481.126.  OFFENSE:  ILLEGAL BARTER, EXPENDITURE, OR
INVESTMENT.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person:
(1)  barters property or expends funds the person knows
are derived from the commission of a first degree felony offense
under this chapter punishable by imprisonment in the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice for life; or
(2)  [barters property or expends funds the person
knows are derived from the commission of an offense under Section
481.121(a) that is punishable under Section 481.121(b)(5);
[(3)]  barters property or finances or invests funds
the person knows or believes are intended to further the commission
of an offense for which the punishment is described by Subdivision
[(4)  barters property or finances or invests funds the
person knows or believes are intended to further the commission of
an offense under Section 481.121(a) that is punishable under
(b)  An offense under this section [Subsection (a)(1) or (3)]
is a felony of the first degree.  [An offense under Subsection
(a)(2) or (4) is a felony of the second degree.]
SECTION 3.02.  Section 71.023(a), Penal Code, is amended to
(a)  A person commits an offense if the person, as part of the
identifiable leadership of a criminal street gang or foreign
terrorist organization, knowingly finances, directs, or supervises
the commission of, or a conspiracy to commit, one or more of the
following offenses by members of a criminal street gang or foreign
(1)  a felony offense that is listed in Article
42A.054(a), Code of Criminal Procedure;
(2)  a felony offense for which it is shown that a
deadly weapon, as defined by Section 1.07, was used or exhibited
during the commission of the offense or during immediate flight
from the commission of the offense; or
(3)  an offense that is punishable under Section
481.112(e) or (f), 481.1121(b)(4), 481.1123(d), (e), or (f),
[481.115(f),] or 481.120(b)(6), Health and Safety Code.
ARTICLE 4.  TRANSITION; EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 4.01.  The changes in law made by this Act apply to
an offense committed before, on, or after September 1, 2025, except
that a final conviction for an offense that exists on September 1,
2025, is unaffected by this Act.
SECTION 4.02.  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 criminal penalties for possession offenses under the