BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2666 By: Virdell Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE On February 4, 2021, the historic Mason County Courthouse in Mason, Texas, was ravaged by an arson fire that reduced the 111-year-old landmark to its sandstone shell. The blaze destroyed a community cornerstone slated for a $4.1 million restoration and cost the state an estimated $20 million in damages, as reported by the Texas Bar Foundation. The bill author has informed the committee that this crime exposed a gap in Texas law, as arson of government buildings lacks the explicit punitive weight reserved for residences or places of worship. H.B. 2666 seeks to address this disparity by strengthening penalties for arson targeting government buildings in order to deter future attacks on public heritage and safeguard Texas communities. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2666 amends the Penal Code to expand the conduct that constitutes the first degree felony offense for arson to include an arson offense for which it is shown on the trial of the offense that the property intended to be damaged or destroyed was a government building. H.B. 2666 applies only to an offense committed on or after the bill's effective date. An offense committed before the bill's effective date 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 these purposes, an offense was committed before the bill's effective date if any element of the offense occurred before that date. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2666
By: Virdell
Criminal Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2666
By: Virdell
Criminal Jurisprudence
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE On February 4, 2021, the historic Mason County Courthouse in Mason, Texas, was ravaged by an arson fire that reduced the 111-year-old landmark to its sandstone shell. The blaze destroyed a community cornerstone slated for a $4.1 million restoration and cost the state an estimated $20 million in damages, as reported by the Texas Bar Foundation. The bill author has informed the committee that this crime exposed a gap in Texas law, as arson of government buildings lacks the explicit punitive weight reserved for residences or places of worship. H.B. 2666 seeks to address this disparity by strengthening penalties for arson targeting government buildings in order to deter future attacks on public heritage and safeguard Texas communities.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2666 amends the Penal Code to expand the conduct that constitutes the first degree felony offense for arson to include an arson offense for which it is shown on the trial of the offense that the property intended to be damaged or destroyed was a government building. H.B. 2666 applies only to an offense committed on or after the bill's effective date. An offense committed before the bill's effective date 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 these purposes, an offense was committed before the bill's effective date if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
On February 4, 2021, the historic Mason County Courthouse in Mason, Texas, was ravaged by an arson fire that reduced the 111-year-old landmark to its sandstone shell. The blaze destroyed a community cornerstone slated for a $4.1 million restoration and cost the state an estimated $20 million in damages, as reported by the Texas Bar Foundation. The bill author has informed the committee that this crime exposed a gap in Texas law, as arson of government buildings lacks the explicit punitive weight reserved for residences or places of worship. H.B. 2666 seeks to address this disparity by strengthening penalties for arson targeting government buildings in order to deter future attacks on public heritage and safeguard Texas communities.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2666 amends the Penal Code to expand the conduct that constitutes the first degree felony offense for arson to include an arson offense for which it is shown on the trial of the offense that the property intended to be damaged or destroyed was a government building.
H.B. 2666 applies only to an offense committed on or after the bill's effective date. An offense committed before the bill's effective date 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 these purposes, an offense was committed before the bill's effective date if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.