Relating to the carrying of a firearm by a person who is a member of a criminal street gang; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 809 creates a new third-degree felony offense for members of criminal street gangs who carry a firearm while committing or attempting to commit a Class B misdemeanor or more serious crime. It specifically targets gang members engaged in certain criminal activities, including drug offenses, violent crimes, or gang-related conduct as defined by Texas law. This new felony charge increases penalties for these combined actions compared to the original offense alone. The law will take effect on September 1, 2025, and only applies to offenses committed after that date.