HB 2331
AN ACT relating to the prosecution of the offense of smuggling of persons.
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
Strengthens Texas laws against human smuggling by expanding criminal prosecution for individuals who transport people while attempting to conceal them from law enforcement, encourage illegal entry into the country, or assist multiple individuals in entering agricultural land without the owner's consent. The law specifically targets actions like using vehicles to hide people from peace officers, fleeing from law enforcement, and entering private agricultural property illegally. The changes will apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, providing law enforcement with additional tools to combat human smuggling and unauthorized land entry.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the prosecution of the offense of smuggling of persons. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 20.05(a), Penal Code, is amended to read (a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly: (1) uses a motor vehicle, aircraft, watercraft, or other means of conveyance to transport an individual with the (A) conceal the individual from a peace officer (B) flee from a person the actor knows is a peace officer or special investigator attempting to lawfully arrest or (2) encourages or induces a person to enter or remain in this country in violation of state or federal law [by concealing, harboring, or shielding that person from detection]; or (3) assists, guides, or directs two or more individuals to enter or remain on agricultural land without the effective consent of the owner. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies 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 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Aliens and related subject areas.
Haley Cornyn
Gavin L. Massingill
Shera Eichler
Jennifer Shelley Rodriguez
Ky Ash
Nora Del Bosque
Craig Holzheauser
Jacob Smith
Elizabeth Hadley
Clayton Pope
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the prosecution of the offense of smuggling of persons.
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