Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB108 Latest Draft

Bill / Comm Sub Version Filed 05/09/2025

                            89R26982 JDK-D
 By: Plesa, Villalobos, McLaughlin, Leach, H.B. No. 108
 Moody, et al.
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 108:
 By:  Jones of Harris C.S.H.B. No. 108




 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the use of metal or body armor while committing certain
 offenses; increasing a criminal penalty.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Article 42.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
 amended by adding Section 17 to read as follows:
 Sec. 17.  In addition to the information described by
 Section 1, the judgment must reflect the affirmative finding
 entered pursuant to Article 42.01992.
 SECTION 2.  Chapter 42, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
 amended by adding Article 42.01992 to read as follows:
 Art. 42.01992.  FINDING REGARDING USE OF METAL OR BODY
 ARMOR. In the trial of an offense under Title 5, Penal Code,
 punishable as a felony of the third degree or any higher category of
 offense, other than a felony of the first degree, the judge shall
 make an affirmative finding of fact and enter the affirmative
 finding in the judgment in the case if at the guilt or innocence
 phase of the trial, the judge or the jury, whichever is the trier of
 fact, determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant used
 metal or body armor, as defined by Section 46.041, Penal Code,
 during the commission of the offense.
 SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Penal Code, is amended
 by adding Section 12.503 to read as follows:
 Sec. 12.503.  PENALTY IF METAL OR BODY ARMOR USED DURING
 COMMISSION OF OFFENSE. If an affirmative finding under Article
 42.01992, Code of Criminal Procedure, is made in the trial of an
 offense, the punishment for the offense is increased to the
 punishment prescribed for the next highest category of offense.
 SECTION 4.  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
 before that date.
 SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.