TX
Texas House Bill HB3779

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3779

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to the imposition of concurrent or consecutive sentences for certain convictions.

Impact

If enacted, HB 3779 would impact future criminal proceedings by establishing clearer guidelines for judges when determining whether sentences for certain offenses will run concurrently or consecutively. It also emphasizes that the law applies only to offenses committed after the effective date of this act, allowing those convicted before this date to be sentenced under the previous laws. This provision ensures that the bill does not retroactively affect individuals already sentenced, thereby protecting due process rights.

Summary

House Bill 3779 aims to amend the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to modify the imposition of concurrent or consecutive sentences for specific convictions. The bill addresses the definition of a conviction to include instances where a defendant was found guilty or entered a guilty plea for an offense but was granted deferred adjudication community supervision. This change intends to clarify the circumstances under which a defendant is considered convicted for sentencing purposes, providing consistency in how sentences are adjudicated across similar cases.

Contention

There may be opposition to HB 3779, particularly concerning how it alters the treatment of defendants who receive deferred adjudication. Advocates for criminal justice reform might argue that the bill expands the definition of a conviction too broadly, potentially leading to harsher sentencing practices against individuals who might otherwise have been eligible for leniency under prior interpretations. Likewise, discussions around the implications of consecutive versus concurrent sentences could bring forth debates about fairness, the potential for increased incarceration rates, and the long-term impacts on individuals' lives.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Code Of Criminal Procedure

  • Chapter 42. Judgment And Sentence
    • Section: New Section

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HB802

Relating to the imposition of consecutive sentences for more than one criminal offense of injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual arising out of the same criminal episode.

TX HB905

Relating to credit toward a defendant's sentence for time confined in jail or prison before sentencing.

TX SB23

Relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and changing the eligibility for community supervision and parole for certain felony offenses in which a firearm is used or exhibited and to certain consequences on conviction of certain offenses.

TX HB1736

Relating to the extent of a defendant's criminal responsibility for the conduct of a coconspirator in a capital murder case and the review of certain convictions by the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

TX HB5164

Relating to credit toward a defendant's sentence for time confined in jail or prison before sentencing.

TX HB2918

Relating to the imposition of a supplemental court security fee on conviction of certain criminal offenses.

TX HB3647

Relating to the imposition by the Department of Public Safety of administrative and civil consequences for certain criminal convictions.

TX HB2909

Relating to the imposition of fines and costs for a defendant who is younger than 18 years of age.

TX HB1402

Relating to the criminal penalties for certain criminal offenses.

TX HB4843

Relating to increasing the minimum term of imprisonment and changing the eligibility for community supervision and parole for certain felony offenses in which a firearm is used or exhibited, to certain consequences on conviction of certain of those offenses, and to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.