Relating to the punishment for the criminal offense of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

HB 1283 amends Texas law to clarify penalties for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in criminal cases. It reclassifies offenses involving human corpses as second-degree felonies (instead of third-degree) and sets misdemeanor-level penalties when evidence relates only to misdemeanor offenses. The bill also adds a defense if evidence destroyed was prohibited visual material under specific sections. These changes apply only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025. The bill does not affect cases involving evidence related to felony offenses.