HB 3436
AN ACT relating to the definition of a child for purposes of the offense of
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
Modifies the legal definition of a "child" in Texas Penal Code from a person younger than 17 years to a person younger than 18 years, specifically for the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child. The change expands the age range of protection, meaning adults can be held criminally responsible for allowing children under 18 (rather than under 17) to access firearms in ways that could potentially cause harm. The new definition will apply to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the definition of a child for purposes of the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 46.13(a)(1), Penal Code, is amended to (1) "Child" means a person younger than 18 [17] years 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 Weapons and related subject areas.
Brianna M. Menard
Haley Cornyn
Michael J. Johnson
Vera Denise Rose
Gavin L. Massingill
Fred Shannon
Sarah Hicks
Matthew Bentley
Luis Saenz
Kelly Barnes
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the definition of a child for purposes of the offense of
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