Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for the offense of injury to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual when committed in a disaster area or evacuated area.

SB 486 increases criminal penalties for specific crimes involving injury to children, elderly individuals, or disabled people when those crimes occur in disaster areas or evacuated zones. It amends Texas Penal Code Section 12.50(b) to apply enhanced penalties to existing offenses like assault (Section 22.01), neglect (Section 20.05), or abuse (Section 20.06) committed in these locations. The bill does not create new offenses but raises penalties for violations already covered under current law. The changes take effect September 1, 2025, and only apply to offenses committed on or after that date. This policy targets crimes against vulnerable populations during crisis situations where safety protections may be compromised.