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HB 4996

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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Committee

Not yet assigned

Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of

Subject Areas

Crimes--Against Property FRAUD Property Interests--Mortgages & Liens Property Interests--Real Property

Bill Text

relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of
refusal to execute the release of a fraudulent lien or claim.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 32.49(c), Penal Code, is amended to read
(c)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor,
except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the owner
of the real or personal property subject to the fraudulent lien or
claim is a person the actor knows is a public servant.
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 increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of

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