Criminal Justice (Corrections)

HB 320 prohibits the sale or transfer of semiautomatic rifles to anyone under 21 years old, expanding existing restrictions that previously only applied to children under 18 for other firearms. The bill amends Texas Penal Code Section 46.06 to make violations a state jail felony (up from a misdemeanor) for this specific transfer. It directly affects firearm sellers, dealers, and individuals under 21 attempting to purchase semiautomatic rifles. The law applies only to semiautomatic rifles, not all firearms, and does not change existing provisions for transfers to minors under 18 with parental consent. The bill is currently in the filing stage with no voting record yet.

SB 35 amends Texas law to criminalize noncustodial parents who knowingly entice or persuade a child under 18 to leave the custody of the custodial parent or guardian. The offense is typically a Class C misdemeanor (with a $500 fine), but becomes a state jail felony if the parent has two prior convictions for this offense or if the child is enticed to leave the state. The law applies only to offenses committed after its effective date (91 days after the legislative session ends), not retroactively. This bill directly affects noncustodial parents involved in custody disputes who interfere with a child’s lawful custody arrangements.

HB 308 creates a new criminal offense for trespassing on or near school or day-care center property. It applies to individuals who enter school property or remain within 250 feet of it if their conduct is disruptive, threatening, or harassing to students, staff, or school operations, and they lack a valid reason (like custody) or written permission from the school. The law requires that the person ignores a reasonable request to leave from school staff before being charged. Violating this law is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine. The bill specifically targets disruptive behavior near schools, not general trespassing.