Bill > HB372

This bill modifies the legal standard for the affirmative defense of compulsion (also known as duress) in the Texas Penal Code by changing how a person's response to forceful pressure is evaluated. Specifically, the bill replaces the existing language about "reasonable firmness" with a new standard that considers whether a reasonable person in the defendant's specific situation would be incapable of resisting the pressure. This change introduces a more contextual and individualized assessment of duress, requiring courts to evaluate the defendant's circumstances more holistically when determining whether compulsion can be used as a legal defense. The bill will apply only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, meaning that for any crimes committed before that date, the previous legal standard will still be used. This modification aims to provide a more nuanced approach to understanding how individuals might respond to threats or force that compel them to commit criminal acts.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB372