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HB 3165

AN ACT relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of

House Bill
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

Increases criminal penalties for certain sexual assault of a child offenses, specifically changing the classification of some sexual assault cases to first-degree felonies based on specific relationship circumstances between the offender and victim. The legislation also modifies parole eligibility, preventing release for individuals convicted of certain sexual assault offenses under specific sections of the Texas Penal Code. These changes aim to provide stricter legal consequences for sexual crimes involving minors and limit potential early release for offenders.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of
sexual assault of a child and changing the eligibility for parole of
certain persons convicted of that offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 508.145(a), Government Code, is amended
(a)  An inmate is not eligible for release on parole if the
inmate is under sentence of death, serving a sentence of life
imprisonment without parole, or serving a sentence for any of the
following offenses under the Penal Code:
(1)  Section 20A.03, if the offense is based partly or
wholly on conduct constituting an offense under Section
20A.02(a)(5), (6), (7), or (8);
(3)  Section 22.011, if the offense is punishable under
Subsection (f)(1)(B) of that section;
(4)  Section 22.021, if the offense is punishable under
Subsection (f) of that section; or
(5) [(4)]  Section 51.03 or 51.04.
SECTION 2.  Section 22.011(f), Penal Code, is amended to
(f)  An offense under this section is a felony of the second
degree, except that an offense under this section is:
(1)  a felony of the first degree if [the victim was]:
(i)  a person whom the actor was prohibited
from marrying or purporting to marry or with whom the actor was
prohibited from living under the appearance of being married under
(ii) [(B)]  a person with whom the actor was
prohibited from engaging in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual
intercourse under Section 25.02; or
(B)  the offense was committed under Subsection
(2)  a state jail felony if the offense is committed
under Subsection (a)(1) and the actor has not received express
consent as described by Subsection (b)(12).
SECTION 3.  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 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of