89R9582 CJD-D
By: AnchÃa H.B. No. 2695
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of a social media platform in furtherance of an
offense involving the delivery of a controlled substance;
increasing criminal penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 481, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 481.142 to read as follows:
Sec. 481.142. USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM FOR DELIVERY OF
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. (a) "Social media platform" has the meaning
assigned by Section 120.001, Business & Commerce Code.
(b) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under Section
481.112, 481.1121, 481.1123, 481.113, 481.114, 481.119, 481.120,
or 481.122, involving the delivery of a controlled substance that
the defendant used a social media platform in furtherance of the
offense, the punishment for the offense is increased to the
punishment prescribed by the next higher category of offense,
except that the punishment for a felony of the first degree is
increased by five years and the maximum fine for the offense is
doubled.
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 at the time 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.