HB 372

AN ACT relating to the affirmative defense to prosecution for a criminal

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

relating to the affirmative defense to prosecution for a criminal

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the affirmative defense to prosecution for a criminal
offense for persons acting under duress.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 8.05(c), Penal Code, is amended to read
(c)  Compulsion within the meaning of this section exists
only if the force or threat of force would render a reasonable
person in the situation of the defendant [reasonable firmness]
incapable of resisting the pressure.
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.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the affirmative defense to prosecution for a criminal